Exhibit 5.1

July 30, 2013

Superconductor Technologies Inc.

460 Ward Drive

Santa Barbara, California 93111-2310

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We have acted as special counsel to Superconductor Technologies Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), in connection with the preparation and filing of a Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-189006) originally filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) by the Company on or about May 31, 2013 (as amended, the “Registration Statement”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). The Registration Statement relates to the proposed issuance and sale by the Company (the “Offering”) of shares of its common stock, par value $0.001 per share (“Common Stock”) and warrants to purchase Common Stock (“Warrants”), with a proposed maximum aggregate offering price of up to $30,000,000 (collectively, the “Securities”). The Securities are to be sold by the Company pursuant to an underwriting agreement (the “Underwriting Agreement”) to be entered into by and among the Company, on the one hand, and Ladenburg Thalmann & Co. Inc., on the other hand, on behalf of themselves and as representative of the several underwriters named therein. This opinion is being furnished in accordance with the requirements of Item 601(b)(5) of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act.

We have examined or considered originals or copies, certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of the certificate of incorporation of the Company, as amended and as in effect on and as of the date hereof, the bylaws of the Company, as amended and as in effect on and as of the date hereof, records of relevant corporate proceedings with respect to the Offering and such other documents, instruments and corporate records as we have deemed necessary or appropriate for the expression of the opinions contained herein. We have also reviewed the Registration Statement as filed with the Commission.

In connection with our representation of the Company, and as a basis for the opinion herein, we have assumed the authenticity and completeness of all records, certificates and other instruments submitted to us as originals, the conformity to original documents of all records, certificates and other instruments submitted to us as copies, the authenticity and completeness of the originals of those records, certificates and other instruments submitted to us as copies and the correctness of all statements of fact contained in all records, certificates and other instruments that we have examined. We also have obtained from the officers of the Company certificates as to certain factual matters necessary for the purpose of this opinion and, insofar as this opinion is based on such matters of fact, we have relied solely on such certificates without independent investigation.

Our opinions set forth below are qualified to the extent that they may be subject to or affected by (i) applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent conveyance or similar laws relating to or affecting the rights of creditors generally, (ii) statutory or decisional law concerning recourse by creditors to security in the absence of notice or hearing, (iii) duties and standards imposed on creditors and parties to contracts, including, without limitation, requirements of good faith, reasonableness and fair dealing, and (iv) general equitable principles. We express no opinion as to the availability of any equitable or specific remedy upon any breach of any of the agreements as to which we are opining herein, or any of the agreements, documents or obligations referred to therein, or to the successful assertion of any equitable defenses, inasmuch as the availability of such remedies or the success of any equitable defense may be subject to the discretion of a court.

We also express no opinion herein as to any provision of any agreement (a) which may be deemed to or construed to waive any right of the Company, (b) to the effect that rights and remedies are not exclusive, that every right or remedy is cumulative and may be exercised in addition to or with any other right or remedy and does not preclude recourse to one or more other rights or remedies, (c) relating to the effect of invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of the Warrants on the validity or enforceability of any other provision thereof, (d) which is in violation of public policy, including, without limitation, any provision relating to indemnification and contribution with respect to securities law matters, (e) which provides that the terms of the Warrants may not be waived or modified except in writing or (f) relating to choice of law or consent to jurisdiction.

Based upon the foregoing and subject to the assumptions, limitations and exceptions set forth herein, we are of the opinion that:

1. The shares of Common Stock included in the Offering have been authorized by all necessary corporate action of the Company and, when issued and delivered against payment therefor as contemplated in the Underwriting Agreement, will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

2. The Warrants have been duly authorized for issuance and, when the Warrants are issued and paid for in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Underwriting Agreement, the Warrants will have been duly executed and delivered by the Company and will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Company.

3. The shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrants (the “Warrant Shares”) have been duly authorized for issuance and, when issued and delivered against payment therefor in accordance with the provisions of the Warrants, including the payment of the exercise price therefor, the Warrant Shares will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

We express no opinion as to the applicability or effect of any laws, orders or judgments of any state or other jurisdiction other than the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (including the statutory provisions and all applicable provisions of the Delaware Constitution and reported judicial decisions interpreting those laws), and the federal securities

laws. Further, this opinion is based solely upon existing laws, rules and regulations, and we undertake no obligation to advise you of any changes that may be brought to our attention after the date hereof. This opinion is expressly limited to the matters set forth above and we render no opinion, whether by implication or otherwise, as to any other matters relating to the Company or the Common Stock.

We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion with the Commission as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and the use of our name therein under the caption “Legal Matters.” In giving this consent, we do not admit that we come within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission adopted under the Securities Act.

Very truly yours,

/S/ MANATT, PHELPS & PHILLIPS, LLP

Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP