Pressure Unlocks 3D Superconductivity in Tantalum Disulfide at Triple the Temperature

Pressure unlocks 3D superconductivity in tantalum disulfide at triple the temperature

Superconductors have long been considered a promising technology for the energy systems of the future. They can conduct electricity without resistance, thus eliminating both conduction losses and waste heat. Up to now, however, superconductors have only been applied in special cases, as in the immensely powerful magnet coils of particle accelerators such as the Large Hadron Collider at CERN. This is because superconductors must be well cooled, down to extremely low temperatures for some materials.

Squeezing a quantum material unlocks stronger superconductivity

Scientists used muons to show how pressure makes tantalum disulfide superconduct in 3D at three times higher temperatures.

Tantalum Disulphide Becomes Superconducting At 3× Higher Temperatures Under Pressure

Researchers at the Paul Scherrer Institute PSI have found that tantalum disulphide becomes superconducting at roughly three times higher temperatures when subjected to high pressure. This discovery offers new insights into unconventional superconductivity and could aid in developing energy-efficient technologies through materials functioning at more practical temperatures.