Niobium-rhenium alloy shows signs of triplet superconductivity
Updated
Updated · ScienceDaily · May 4
Niobium-rhenium alloy shows signs of triplet superconductivity
4 articles · Updated · ScienceDaily · May 4
Professor Jacob Linder's NTNU team, working with Italian collaborators, reported the NbRe findings in Physical Review Letters after experiments at 7 Kelvin.
If confirmed by other groups and further tests, the material could carry both electrical and spin currents with zero resistance, improving quantum-computing stability and cutting energy loss.
Triplet superconductors are highly sought in quantum technology and spintronics because conventional singlet superconductors do not transport spin, limiting ultra-fast, low-power device designs.
With a breakthrough discovery and massive investment, is Norway becoming the world's next quantum technology hub?
Will a new 'holy grail' material—not software—be the key to finally stabilizing quantum computers?
Experimental Evidence and Challenges of Intrinsic Triplet Superconductivity in NbRe at 7 K
Overview
In 2025, Professor Jacob Linder's team discovered intrinsic triplet superconductivity in the niobium-rhenium (NbRe) alloy, enabled by its unique noncentrosymmetric crystal structure. This state allows Cooper pairs with parallel spins, leading to the inverse spin-valve effect observed in NbRe-based devices and enabling dissipationless spin transport. NbRe’s relatively high critical temperature of 7 K makes it a promising, scalable platform for superconducting spintronics and quantum technologies. However, challenges remain, including a weak triplet component, uncertainty about the effect’s origin, and difficulties in independent replication. Addressing these through systematic research and collaboration is essential to unlock NbRe’s potential for fault-tolerant topological qubits and advanced spintronic devices.