Nickelate superconductor
Researchers at SUSTech spent three years developing a unique method to create their nickelate superconductor. This material is composed of nickel, oxygen, and two rare earth metals: lanthanum and praseodymium.
They arranged these elements in a way that achieved superconductivity at ambient pressure — a major advancement over previous methods that required extreme pressures.
The material transitioned into a superconducting state at about -228 degrees Celsius when formed in thin layers.
“The discovery of bilayer nickelate superconductors under high pressure has opened a new chapter in high-transition temperature superconductivity,” the study stated.
“Our work allows experimental investigations of the superconductivity mechanism with enhanced feasibility,” it added.