Room-Temperature Superconductivity in Hydrogen Cage Compounds

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.