Chinese Scientists Create New Nickel-Based Superconductor at Ambient Pressure

In a major breakthrough for superconductivity research, Chinese scientists have successfully created a new high-temperature superconductor based on nickel that operates at ambient pressure. This discovery makes nickel only the third class of materials—after copper-based cuprates and iron-based superconductors—to exhibit superconductivity above the critical threshold of minus 233 degrees Celsius (minus 387 degrees Fahrenheit) under normal atmospheric conditions.

The team from the Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech) in Shenzhen announced their findings in the journal Nature, stating that this achievement paves the way for further investigations into nickelate superconductors and the mechanisms behind superconductivity. The researchers believe this could lead to even higher transition temperatures in future materials, bringing superconductivity closer to practical applications.

Superconductivity: The Key to a Future Without Electrical Resistance

Superconductivity is a phenomenon where a material exhibits zero electrical resistance and repels magnetic fields when cooled below a certain temperature. This unique property has enormous potential in various industries, including power transmission, magnetic levitation for transportation, and fusion reactors. While many materials can achieve superconductivity at extremely low temperatures, discovering materials that function above minus 233 degrees Celsius at normal pressure has been a significant challenge.

Most superconductors require costly cooling methods, such as liquid helium, to reach their operational state. However, high-temperature superconductors, which can be cooled using liquid nitrogen, are more efficient and economically viable. Until now, only cuprates and iron-based materials have been able to achieve this phenomenon under ambient pressure. The new nickel-based material represents a significant step forward in expanding this class of superconductors.

Overcoming the High-Pressure Barrier

Prior to this discovery, nickel-based superconductivity was only achievable under extreme pressures—hundreds of thousands of atmospheres—akin to the pressure found deep inside the Earth. This requirement severely limited experimental research and potential real-world applications.

"Now, we have successfully achieved high-temperature superconductivity in nickel-based materials under normal pressure," said Chen Zhuoyu, co-corresponding author and associate professor at SUSTech. The team developed the nickelate superconductor by combining nickel, oxygen, and the rare earth metals lanthanum and praseodymium. They refined this method over three years, ultimately producing a thin-layered material that transitions into a superconducting state at around minus 228 degrees Celsius.

A Major Leap for China's Scientific Innovation

Co-author and SUSTech President Xue Qikun emphasized that this breakthrough is not only a major scientific achievement but also a demonstration of China’s growing independence in experimental research. The instruments used in the study were domestically developed, highlighting the country’s capability to lead in advanced material science.

"We will further use our unique experimental technology to explore different material systems and push the boundaries of superconductivity at higher temperatures under normal pressure," Xue said.

With this discovery, the future of superconductivity research looks increasingly promising. Scientists worldwide are now eager to study this nickelate material in greater detail, hoping to unlock even more advanced superconducting materials that could revolutionize energy transmission, computing, and transportation.