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Chen W, Huang X, Semenok DV, Chen S, Zhou D, Zhang K, Oganov AR, Cui T. Enhancement of superconducting properties in the La-Ce-H system at moderate pressures. Nat Commun 2023; 14:2660. [PMID: 37160883 PMCID: PMC10170082 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-38254-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2022] [Accepted: 04/17/2023] [Indexed: 05/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Ternary hydrides are regarded as an important platform for exploring high-temperature superconductivity at relatively low pressures. Here, we successfully synthesized the hcp-(La,Ce)H9-10 at 113 GPa with the initial La/Ce ratio close to 3:1. The high-temperature superconductivity was strikingly observed at 176 K and 100 GPa with the extrapolated upper critical field Hc2(0) reaching 235 T. We also studied the binary La-H system for comparison, which exhibited a Tc of 103 K at 78 GPa. The Tc and Hc2(0) of the La-Ce-H are respectively enhanced by over 80 K and 100 T with respect to the binary La-H and Ce-H components. The experimental results and theoretical calculations indicate that the formation of the solid solution contributes not only to enhanced stability but also to superior superconducting properties. These results show how better superconductors can be engineered in the new hydrides by large addition of alloy-forming elements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wuhao Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Superhard Materials, College of Physics, Jilin University, Changchun, 130012, China
| | - Xiaoli Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Superhard Materials, College of Physics, Jilin University, Changchun, 130012, China.
| | - Dmitrii V Semenok
- Center for High Pressure Science and Technology Advanced Research (HPSTAR), Beijing, 100094, China
| | - Su Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Superhard Materials, College of Physics, Jilin University, Changchun, 130012, China
| | - Di Zhou
- Center for High Pressure Science and Technology Advanced Research (HPSTAR), Beijing, 100094, China
| | - Kexin Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Superhard Materials, College of Physics, Jilin University, Changchun, 130012, China
| | - Artem R Oganov
- Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology, Skolkovo Innovation Center, Bolshoy Boulevard 30, bldg. 1, Moscow, 121205, Russia
| | - Tian Cui
- State Key Laboratory of Superhard Materials, College of Physics, Jilin University, Changchun, 130012, China.
- School of Physical Science and Technology, Ningbo University, Ningbo, 315211, China.
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Chen D, Li QM, Gao W. Role of van der Waals forces in the metal-insulator transition of transition metal oxides. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2022; 24:5455-5461. [PMID: 35174379 DOI: 10.1039/d2cp00282e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Transition metal oxides (TMOs) exhibit great potential in technological applications due to their ability to undergo a rapid metal-insulator transition (MIT). However, the phase stability of TMOs, which models the on/off voltages of electronic devices, remains controversial due to the incomplete knowledge of the determinants of its stability. Herein, we study the effect of van der Waals (vdW) interactions on the phase stability of TMOs by employing the pairwise and screened vdW methods. Our calculations manifest that the vdW interactions are crucial to the TMOs' phase stability and tend to stabilize the insulating phase. Furthermore, the long-range electrodynamic screening interactions correct the TMOs' phase stability by revising the vdW term.
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Affiliation(s)
- Da Chen
- Key Laboratory of Automobile Materials, Ministry of Education, and School of Materials Science and Engineering, Jilin University, Changchun 130022, China.
| | - Quan Ming Li
- Key Laboratory of Automobile Materials, Ministry of Education, and School of Materials Science and Engineering, Jilin University, Changchun 130022, China.
| | - Wang Gao
- Key Laboratory of Automobile Materials, Ministry of Education, and School of Materials Science and Engineering, Jilin University, Changchun 130022, China.
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