University of Houston Sets -122.15°C Superconductivity Record, Beating 1993 Ambient-Pressure Mark by 20°C
Updated
Updated · ScienceAlert · Jul 7
University of Houston Sets -122.15°C Superconductivity Record, Beating 1993 Ambient-Pressure Mark by 20°C
1 articles · Updated · ScienceAlert · Jul 7
Summary
-122.15°C is the new highest temperature for superconductivity at ambient pressure, achieved by University of Houston physicists using the cuprate material Hg1223.
The team lifted the 1993 record by more than 20°C by pressure-quenching Hg1223—compressing it to 30 gigapascals, then releasing pressure rapidly to lock in a metastable structure.
Advanced Photon Source measurements indicated defects created during that rapid release help the material stay superconducting after pressure returns to normal.
The result does not beat the overall superconductivity temperature record of -13.15°C, but that material required 190 gigapascals, underscoring the trade-off between warmer operation and practical pressure.
Researchers said the ambient-pressure advance could speed work toward superconductors usable in power grids, electric vehicles and levitation systems under everyday conditions.
Is 'tricking' materials with pressure the secret to finally unlocking a superconductor revolution?
After a 30-year stalemate, what is the next hurdle in turning this lab record into world-changing technology?
The New 151 K World Record in Ambient-Pressure Superconductivity: Advances, Challenges, and Future Directions
Overview
Researchers led by Professor Paul Ching-Wu Chu and Dr. Liangzi Deng have set a new world record in superconductivity by achieving a transition temperature of 151 K at ambient pressure. Their breakthrough builds on decades of global research, which began with the discovery of high-temperature superconductivity in YBCO. The team used a technique called pressure quenching, where materials are subjected to extreme pressure and cooling, then rapidly released, to preserve the high-pressure superconducting state at normal conditions. This method opens new possibilities for creating superconductors that work at higher temperatures without the need for constant high pressure.