Two separate studies published in peer-reviewed journals have reported progress in the search for new superconductors. One study utilized machine learning to identify new materials, while another identified a previously overlooked physical mechanism in an existing superconductor.
Machine Learning Identifies Two New Superconductors
An international team of quantum researchers used machine learning to filter material combinations for potential superconductivity. The approach led to the identification and synthesis of two new superconductors: YRu3B2 and LuRu3B2.
According to the study published in Physical Review Research, the superconductivity in these materials results from electrons forming flat bands in a kagome lattice pattern.
The research was conducted by the SuperC consortium, formed in 2023 and led by Aalto University. The consortium’s stated goal is to find a room-temperature superconductor by 2033. The consortium combines quantum geometry and machine learning.
"Superconductors typically require extremely low temperatures to operate." Historically, over 7,000 superconductors have been discovered, mostly by chance, with only about 20 predicted theoretically due to high computational demands. The new machine-learning approach uses pre-screening followed by targeted calculations.
Electron Scattering Mechanism in Cerium Superhydride
Separately, physicists from King's College London and other institutions published research in Nature focusing on cerium superhydride (CeH9). The study identified a factor contributing to its superconductivity that had been overlooked in previous models. The researchers reported that CeH9 can operate at temperatures twice as high as earlier predictions.
A key challenge in superconductor research is that most known materials require extremely low temperatures (below -196°C). Hydrogen-rich compounds have shown the highest operational temperatures, with LaH10 reaching approximately -23°C, but under extreme pressures.
Previous theories accurately described the superconductivity of LaH10 but did not explain other hydride superconductors like CeH9, which functions at lower, more practical pressures. The new research revealed that electron-electron interactions, or electron scattering, are critical for CeH9's superconductivity, alongside the known phonon-electron interactions.
The researchers stated that incorporating this effect eliminated a 50% discrepancy between experimental data and prior theoretical models, achieving 1% accuracy in reproducing the transition temperature. The team stated this new computational tool can accelerate the exploration of phonon-mediated superconductors for high-temperature and lower-pressure operation.