Superconductivity of platinum hydride

TL;DR

This study demonstrates that platinum hydride becomes superconducting at low temperatures under high pressure, with a transition temperature significantly higher than pure platinum, indicating noble metal hydrides may have enhanced superconducting properties.

Contribution

First experimental evidence of superconductivity in platinum hydride under high pressure, revealing a notable increase in Tc compared to pure platinum.

Findings

Superconducting transition at 6.7 K at 32 GPa

Tc decreases to 4.8 K at 36 GPa

Hydrides of noble metals may have higher Tc than pure elements

Abstract

We report the ac magnetic susceptibility, electrical resistance, and X-ray diffraction measurements of platinum hydride (PtHx) in diamond anvil cells, which reveal its superconducting transition. At 32 GPa, when PtHx is in a P63/mmc structure, PtHx exhibits superconducting transition at 6.7 K and superconducting transition temperature (Tc) decreases with pressure to 4.8 K at 36 GPa. The observed T c is higher than that of powdered Pt by more than three orders of magnitude. It is suggested that hydrides of noble metals have higher Tc than the elements.