The experimental discovery of antimony polyhydride superconductor with Tc up to 116K

The image of the sample chamber & electrodes assembly in a diamond anvil cell.
Credit. ©Science China Press

Researchers at Institute of Physics Chinese Academy of Sciences(IOPCAS) report the discovery of superconductivity (SC) with Tc ~116 K in new antinomy polyhydride SbH4, which has the second highest Tc among the covalent bonding dominated polyhydrides. The paper was published in National Science Review 11, nwad241 (2024).

The experimental discovery of SC with Tc~203 K in SH3 has sparked great enthusiasm to exploring new high-temperature superconducting pollyhydride. Recently, pollyhydride superconductor exploration mainly focuses on the elements with low electronegativity, such as rare-earth and alkaline-earth metals, and near room temperature SC with Tc >200 K has been found in the ion bonding dominated pollyhydrides of lanthanum, yttrium, and calcium, respectively. However, there have been few experimental reports on pollyhydride superconductors with covalent bonding.

In the main groups from IIIA to VIIA, most of the non-metallic elements have high electronegativity and usually form covalent bonding with hydrogen. Therefore, the research team led by Prof. Changqing Jin from IOPCAS try to explore new pollyhydride superconductors with covalent bonding among the non-metallic elements. The diamond anvil cell combined with laser heating technique was used to synthesize the polyhydride samples under high pressure and high temperature conditions. Insitu high pressure transport measurements were performed to study the SC properties. Currently, they have successfully synthesized antimony polyhydride and found that the sample shows superconducting transition at 116 K under 184 GPa. It is proposed that the superconducting phase possibly arises from the P63/mmc-SbH4. In the SbH4 lattice, the shortest H-H length forming conducting path is 1.73 Å, which is significantly larger than the typical value of 1.0-1.2 Å in ion bonding dominated polyhydride superconductors. Their results suggest that hydrogen atoms with moderate distance could be metallized and realize superconductivity via the formation of metallic covalent bonding with the second element.

The study entitled “Superconductivity with Tc 116 K Discovered in Antimony Polyhydrides” was published in National Science Review 11, nwad241 (2024) at https://doi.org/10.1093/nsr/nwad241.

For more details pls visit the web at  http://uhp.iphy.ac.cn

Journal: National Science Review
DOI: 10.1093/nsr/nwad241

Media Contact

Bei Yan
Science China Press
yanbei@scichina.com

www.scichina.com

Expert Contact

Changqing JIN
Institute of Physics Chinese Academy of Sciences(IOPCAS)
Jin@iphy.ac.cn

www.iphy.ac.cn

 

Media Contact

Bei Yan
Science China Press

All latest news from the category: Physics and Astronomy

This area deals with the fundamental laws and building blocks of nature and how they interact, the properties and the behavior of matter, and research into space and time and their structures.

innovations-report provides in-depth reports and articles on subjects such as astrophysics, laser technologies, nuclear, quantum, particle and solid-state physics, nanotechnologies, planetary research and findings (Mars, Venus) and developments related to the Hubble Telescope.

Back to home

Comments (0)

Write a comment

Newest articles

New battery technology could boost renewable energy storage

Columbia Engineers develop new powerful battery “fuel” — an electrolyte that not only lasts longer but is also cheaper to produce. Renewable energy sources like wind and solar are critical…

New treatment extends ovarian function in older mice

Going beyond fertility, treatment also fixes hormone production and overall health. Medication to reduce ovarian scarring helps extends overall health of reproductive system Freezing eggs only addresses age-related infertility, not…

Swallowing triggers a feeling of elation

Researchers at the University of Bonn and the University of Cambridge have identified an important control circuit involved in the eating process. The study has revealed that fly larvae have…

Partners & Sponsors