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Researchers from the University of Houston have achieved superconductivity at ambient pressure and a transition temperature of 151 K (−122°C) by applying a pressure quenching technique used to create artificial diamonds. This is a record high temperature for superconductivity at ambient pressure, which is why researchers Ching-Wu Chu and Liangzi Deng believe that the achievement marks a notable advance toward practical superconducting systems. Still, they are 140°C away from achieving superconductivity at room temperature.
Superconductivity is a state in which a material has zero electrical resistance and repels magnetic fields. The state can be achieved under very low temperatures and/or very high pressure, but the industry has to figure out how to achieve it using ambient temperatures and pressure. The main challenge is that the conditions needed for a high critical temperature (Tc) — the point where resistance disappears — are usually unstable at normal conditions. Superconductivity relies on fragile electron pairs that break apart as temperature rises. Applying high pressure can strengthen these interactions by squeezing the material and changing its electronic structure, which increases Tc. However, these improved states typically exist only under extreme pressure, and once it is removed, the material returns to normal and loses its superconductivity. The key goal for scientists is to create materials that keep strong electron pairing and high Tc at ambient pressure — which is essential for practical use — so this is what the scientists from the University of Houston are studying.
The team worked with a mercury-based cuprate superconductor known as Hg1223, a material known for its high transition temperatures. Historically, Hg1223 reached superconductivity at 133 K (−140°C) under ambient conditions, a record that stood since 1993. The new study raises this temperature by 18 K to 151 K (−122°C).
You may like Chinese researchers discover new salty cooling solution that can drop temperatures by more than 50 degrees Celsius in seconds Microsoft turns to superconductors for distributing power to its AI data centers Researchers build atom-thin 2D thermometers that can be embedded directly in processors University of Houston Physicists Set New Superconductivity Temperature Record – YouTube Watch On The key enabler behind the advance is a technique called pressure quenching: the material is first subjected to intense pressure to enhance its electronic properties and increase Tc. While still under pressure, the sample is cooled to a defined temperature, after which the pressure is abruptly removed. This sequence effectively preserves the pressure-induced state of the material and therefore maintains its improved superconducting behavior at ambient pressure. While pressure-assisted superconductivity is well documented, retaining these properties after decompression has proven challenging, which is why this demonstration seems to be significant.
An added bonus of the work is that operating at ambient pressure simplifies experimentation and development as materials stable under normal conditions can be studied using widely available laboratory tools, which boosts both fundamental materials research and applied R&D.
Superconductors can be useful for multiple electronics, energy, medical, and industrial applications, including emerging fusion energy platforms, high-performance electronics, and magnetic resonance imaging systems. All of these devices can benefit from zero-resistance operation, but they cannot use extreme cooling methods, such as liquid nitrogen or something more exotic.
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Reference reading
- https://www.tomshardware.com/tech-industry/semiconductors/SPONSORED_LINK_URL
- https://www.tomshardware.com/tech-industry/semiconductors/researchers-reach-superconductivity-at-ambient-pressure-record-high-temperature-milestone-of-122-c-reached-by-using-pressure-quenching-still-140-degrees-off-room-temperature-target#main
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