For decades, scientists have been searching for materials that can carry electricity without losing energy, sparking hopes of “magic” technology. Research has now made a breakthrough in this field, discovering new materials that can perform superconductivity at lower temperatures and pressures.
A team of experts from the Stanford Institute for Materials and Energy Sciences (SIMES) and the Department of Energy’s SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory found that certain nickelates, chemical cousins of high-temperature superconductors, can achieve this effect without the need for diamond anvil cells. The breakthrough involves thin-film growth and special substrates that apply sideways pressure to adjust atomic configurations.
Tests showed that the transition temperature for these new materials ranges from -413°F to -384°F, a significant improvement over previous findings. The researchers believe that sideways strain modifies the crystal spacing in ways that encourage superconductivity.
The discovery has the potential to revolutionize power transmission and electronics, enabling the creation of stable platforms for qubits that maintain coherence easily. Engineers also dream of power grids that can transmit electricity without losing energy as heat.
However, there are still challenges to overcome, including scaling up production and optimizing growth conditions. Ongoing research aims to improve the transition temperature and achieve a stable zero-resistance state under more manageable conditions.
The breakthrough highlights the importance of materials engineering in advancing science and technology. While significant progress has been made, many investigators see clear signs of hope for simpler, more accessible superconductors that can transform various industries.
Source: https://www.earth.com/news/superconductivity-achieved-at-room-temperature-with-new-materials