Breakthrough Discovery of New Superconducting Material with Record-Breaking Transition Temperature

Monday - January 22 2024, 23:51 UTC - 10 months ago

A research team from the Chinese Academy of Sciences has discovered a new superconducting material, (InSe2)xNbSe2, with a record-breaking transition temperature of 11.6 K and an impressive critical current density. The material's unique lattice structure and high performance make it a promising candidate for future applications.

In January 2024, a research team from the Chinese Academy of Sciences made a breakthrough discovery in the field of superconductors. The team, led by Prof. Changjin Zhang, discovered a new superconducting material with a record-breaking transition temperature and an impressive critical current density.

Using advanced electrical transport and magnetic measurement systems at the Steady High Magnetic Field Facility, the team discovered a new superconducting material called (InSe2)xNbSe2. This material possesses a unique lattice structure, with bonded chains of intercalated indium atoms. The superconducting transition temperature of (InSe2)xNbSe2 reaches 11.6 K, the highest among all transition metal sulfide superconductors under ambient pressure.

The significance of this discovery is highlighted by its publication in the highly prestigious Journal of the American Chemical Society. TMD materials have received significant attention for their potential applications in areas such as catalysis, energy storage, and integrated circuits. However, the relatively low superconducting transition temperatures of TMD superconductors have limited their potential use.

The (InSe2)xNbSe2 superconductor, on the other hand, has a superconducting transition temperature of 11.6 K at ambient pressure, which is 60% higher than that of pristine NbSe2. Even more impressively, it exhibits a critical current density of 8×105 A/cm2, the highest among all TMD superconductors. This critical current density is comparable to that of high-temperature superconductors such as cuprate and iron-based compounds, demonstrating its promising application prospects.

This discovery not only sets a new record for transition metal sulfide superconductors, but also provides new possibilities for advancing superconductivity research and developing high-temperature superconductors with improved performance. With its unique lattice structure and impressive critical current density, (InSe2)xNbSe2 has the potential to revolutionize the field of superconductors.

In conclusion, the discovery of (InSe2)xNbSe2 by the research team at the Chinese Academy of Sciences is a major breakthrough in the development of high-temperature superconductors. Its high transition temperature and critical current density make it a promising candidate for future applications in various industries. This groundbreaking achievement is a testament to the dedication and expertise of the research team, and it opens up new avenues for further advancements in the field of superconductivity.