A high-powered collaborative team of Chinese physicists has achieved a landmark breakthrough in the field of high-temperature superconductivity, discovering two entirely new nickel-based materials that function at ambient pressure. The research, published in the prestigious journal Nature, was led by the Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech) under the guidance of renowned physicist Xue Qikun and Chen Zhuoyu, alongside Shen Dawei’s team from the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC).
For decades, the global scientific community has chased the 'holy grail' of superconductivity—the ability to conduct electricity with zero resistance at accessible temperatures and pressures. While copper-based materials (cuprates) dominated this space for years, the recent emergence of nickelates as a potential alternative has sparked a new international race. This latest Chinese discovery is particularly significant because it overcomes the requirement for extreme pressure, a major hurdle that previously limited the study and application of nickel-based superconductors.
To achieve this result, the researchers employed a sophisticated technique involving artificial atomic stacking sequences under extreme oxidation conditions. This precision engineering allowed them to synthesize stable materials that exhibit superconducting properties without the need for the massive atmospheric pressure typically required to stabilize such structures. The team further utilized angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) to identify the specific electronic band structures associated with the superconducting state, providing a crucial experimental roadmap for understanding how these materials function.
This breakthrough reinforces China's burgeoning leadership in condensed matter physics and quantum materials. By successfully engineering these materials at ambient pressure, the SUSTech and USTC teams have not only expanded the library of known superconductors but have also provided the global scientific community with a more practical platform for exploring the theoretical mechanisms behind high-temperature superconductivity. As the quest for more efficient energy grids and next-generation quantum computing continues, such fundamental discoveries in materials science serve as the essential building blocks for future technological leaps.