Ambient-pressure 151-K superconductivity in HgBa2Ca2Cu3O8+{\delta} via pressure quench

TL;DR

This paper reports a breakthrough in high-temperature superconductivity by stabilizing a record 151 K transition temperature in HgBa2Ca2Cu3O8+{ extdelta} at ambient pressure using a novel pressure-quench protocol, supported by experimental and theoretical analysis.

Contribution

The study introduces a pressure-quench protocol to stabilize high-Tc superconducting states at ambient pressure, achieving a record Tc of 151 K in a cuprate superconductor.

Findings

Achieved record ambient-pressure Tc of 151 K in HgBa2Ca2Cu3O8+{ extdelta}.

Validated results with synchrotron X-ray diffraction and electronic structure calculations.

Opened new pathways for stabilizing high-Tc states at ambient conditions.

Abstract

Superconductivity has been a vigorously researched topic since its discovery in 1911. Raising the superconducting transition temperature (Tc) has been the main driving force behind such long-sustained efforts due to its potential for impacting humanity and the fundamental knowledge gained from understanding this macroscopic coherent quantum state at high temperatures. The successful development of high-Tc superconductivity will make possible extraordinarily efficient generation, delivery, and utilization of energy, and could also enable the development of controlled fusion while impacting other burgeoning fields like quantum computation and quantum electronics. However, progress has been hindered by a longstanding plateau in the record ambient-pressure Tc, unchanged since 1993. Subsequent significant advancements in Tc have been achieved only under high pressures, preventing the realization of superconductivity's full potential. To directly address this challenge, we developed a pressure-quench protocol (PQP) to stabilize pressure-induced/-enhanced superconducting states at ambient pressure. Here we achieve a record ambient-pressure Tc of 151 K in the cuprate HgBa2Ca2Cu3O8+{\delta} via PQP. The experimental results are further supported by synchrotron X-ray diffraction measurements and phonon and electronic structure calculations. This breakthrough opens new avenues for stabilizing and exploring ambient-pressure high-Tc superconducting states and other quantum states that have been previously only accessible under pressure, paving the way for deeper understanding and practical applications of high-Tc superconductivity and beyond.