Room-Temperature Superconductivity in Hydrogen Cage Compounds
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Bristol
Department Name: Physics
Abstract
Superconductivity is a state found in many metals at low temperatures where these conduct current without losses. This property is exploited to generate strong magnetic fields for medical imaging in all magnetic resonance tomographs and for first low-loss power transmission applications. Hence, superconductivity is very important for health care and has the potential to reduce energy consumption. In addition, recently developed quantum computers rely on superconducting q-bits. Much larger scale benefit from superconductivity is expected by developing materials that operate as superconductors at room temperature.
Superconductivity close to room temperature has been discovered over the last 5 years in hydrogen compounds at very high pressures above 1 million atmospheres setting new records for the transition temperature into the superconducting state. This project will focus on finding materials with higher transition temperature and at lower pressure. The insight will help identifying the key parameters for high-temperature superconductivity. The results of the project will allow to refine theoretical modelling of new superconductors and will improve the methods used to produce high-temperature superconductors at high pressures.
We will probe for superconductivity in ternary compounds. We will develop a simpler method for synthesis of these compounds and probe for superconductivity at high pressures with electrical transport measurements. Our new method will use thin films and is expected to make research on high-pressure superconductors accessible to more research groups and hence stimulate new activity.
Superconductivity close to room temperature has been discovered over the last 5 years in hydrogen compounds at very high pressures above 1 million atmospheres setting new records for the transition temperature into the superconducting state. This project will focus on finding materials with higher transition temperature and at lower pressure. The insight will help identifying the key parameters for high-temperature superconductivity. The results of the project will allow to refine theoretical modelling of new superconductors and will improve the methods used to produce high-temperature superconductors at high pressures.
We will probe for superconductivity in ternary compounds. We will develop a simpler method for synthesis of these compounds and probe for superconductivity at high pressures with electrical transport measurements. Our new method will use thin films and is expected to make research on high-pressure superconductors accessible to more research groups and hence stimulate new activity.
Organisations
Publications

Cross S
(2024)
High-temperature superconductivity in La 4 H 23 below 100 GPa
in Physical Review B

Luke EJ
(2023)
Rapid sol-gel synthesis of honeycomb-layered Na3Ni2BiO6 and orthorhombic Na3Ca2BiO6.
in Dalton transactions (Cambridge, England : 2003)

Luke EJ
(2022)
Synthesis of porous high-temperature superconductors via a melamine formaldehyde sacrificial template.
in Nanoscale advances

Osmond I
(2022)
Clean-limit superconductivity in I m 3 ¯ m H 3 S synthesized from sulfur and hydrogen donor ammonia borane
in Physical Review B

Shuttleworth H
(2023)
Pressure-Induced Metallization of BaH$_2$ and the Effect of Hydrogenation

Shuttleworth HA
(2023)
Pressure-Induced Metallization of BaH2 and the Effect of Hydrogenation.
in The journal of physical chemistry letters
Description | We have established hydrogen sulphide as a clean material where superconductivity can be studied in the most direct way. This will promote future studies and help the global effort to find new superconductors with higher transition temperature and at lower pressures. In addition, we have discovered a new superconducting lanthanum hydride phase: La4H23. This paves the way towards high-temperature superconductors at lower temperatures. |
Exploitation Route | Other research groups will benefit from the results and it will inform their research. |
Sectors | Electronics Energy |
Title | Data for publication "Clean-limit superconductivity in Im3m H3S synthesised from sulphur and hydrogen donor ammonia borane" |
Description | Raw data underlying publication "Clean-limit superconductivity in Im3m H3S synthesised from sulphur and hydrogen donor ammonia borane" |
Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
Year Produced | 2022 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
URL | https://data.bris.ac.uk/data/dataset/31o8e84oir4ug21mx9vqymsjyz/ |
Title | Dataset for publication "High-temperature superconductivity in La4H23 below 100 GPa" |
Description | Dataset for publication accepted in Physical Review B Letter |
Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
Year Produced | 2024 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
URL | https://data.bris.ac.uk/data/dataset/22buhfhub62xs2c7xv5w0pa10d/ |