Prediction of Superconductivity at ~ 30 K in Compressed Body-Centered Cubic Yttrium

TL;DR

This study predicts that compressed body-centered cubic yttrium becomes superconducting around 30 K due to strong electron-phonon interactions, which are enhanced by lattice hardening at high pressure.

Contribution

First ab initio prediction of superconductivity at ~30 K in compressed bcc yttrium, highlighting the role of electron-phonon coupling and lattice effects.

Findings

Superconducting transition temperature T_c ~ 30 K or higher.

Large electron-phonon coupling with lambda=1.8.

Lattice hardening enhances electron-phonon interaction.

Abstract

Using ab initio methods, we have studied the electron-phonon interaction in compressed, body-centered cubic (bcc) yttrium, which is predicted to be stable at 280 GPa [Melsen et al, Phys. Rev. B 48, 15574 (1993)]. We find that compressed, bcc yttrium has a large electron-phonon coupling with lambda=1.8, leading to a superconducting transition temperature T_c ~ 30 K or above. Our results indicate that the large electron-phonon coupling is due to the lattice hardening.