Superconductivity above 30 K achieved in dense scandium.
Superconductivity is one of most intriguing quantum phenomena, and the quest for elemental superconductors with high critical temperature (Tc) holds great scientific significance due to their relatively simple material composition and underlying mechanism. Here, we report an experimental discovery of densely compressed scandium (Sc) becoming the first elemental superconductor with Tc breaking into 30 K range, which is comparable to Tc values of the classic La-Ba-Cu-O or LaFeAsO superconductors. Our results show that Tconset of Sc increases monotonically from ~3 K at 43 GPa to ~32 K at 283 GPa (Tczero ~ 31 K), which is well above liquid Neon temperature. Interestingly, measured Tc shows no sign of saturation up to the maximum pressure of 283 GPa achieved in our experiments, indicating that Tc may go higher at further rising pressures. The lift of the 3d orbitals by pressure close to the Fermi energy contributes to enhanced electron-phonon coupling, leading to dramatic rise of Tc. This work demonstrates an effective strategy to produce high-Tc superconductivity via rational pressure induced electronic orbital engineering that may work in diverse materials.
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How to contain ~10kbar (1GPa, 326000′ (100km) water column, synth. diamonds ~5GPa@~1000°C) pressurized ceramics with guaranteed, predicted endurance (on possibly elastic or torsion/tension burdened systems, e.g. power transmission lines?) in a practical utilization?
I thought superconducting materials at liquid Nitrogen temperature (77K) already existed.
We believe that the mechanism that causes superconduction in cuprates (the “high-temperature” semiconductors) is different than the one whic hcauses superconduction in metals (like niobium and aluminium). This is the highest-Tc material of the latter group, which is probably easier to understand and model theoretically. Thus the interest.