Synopsis
A team from Tokyo Metropolitan University has discovered a new superconducting material that could have wider applications in technology. By combining iron, nickel, and zirconium, they created a novel alloy demonstrating superconducting properties, paving the way for advancements in high-temperature superconductors.Key Takeaways
- Discovery of a new superconducting material.
- Utilizes a combination of iron, nickel, and zirconium.
- Exhibits a dome-shaped phase diagram.
- Potential for high-temperature superconductivity.
- Could reduce reliance on liquid helium for cooling.
Tokyo, Jan 19 (NationPress) A team of scientists at Tokyo Metropolitan University has unveiled a groundbreaking superconducting material that promises to be more widely utilized in various sectors.
By combining iron, nickel, and zirconium, they developed a novel transition metal zirconide with varying proportions of iron to nickel.
While both iron zirconide and nickel zirconide are traditionally non-superconducting, the innovative mixtures exhibit a “dome-shaped” phase diagram characteristic of “unconventional superconductors,” indicating a potential pathway for creating high-temperature superconducting materials, as detailed in a study published in the Journal of Alloys and Compounds.
Superconductors currently contribute significantly to advanced technologies, from superconducting magnets in medical devices and maglev systems to superconducting cables for efficient power transmission.
However, the reliance on cooling to temperatures near four Kelvin presents a significant challenge for broader adoption of these technologies.
Researchers are keenly interested in materials that achieve zero resistivity at elevated temperatures, especially the 77 Kelvin threshold, which would allow the use of liquid nitrogen for cooling instead of liquid helium.
Under the guidance of Associate Professor Yoshikazu Mizuguchi, the team has introduced a unique superconducting material that incorporates a magnetic element.
For the first time, the research demonstrated that a polycrystalline alloy composed of iron, nickel, and zirconium exhibits superconducting characteristics, despite the fact that crystalline forms of iron zirconide and nickel zirconide do not.
The study originated from an undergraduate project where different ratios of iron, nickel, and zirconium were combined using an arc melting technique. This confirmed that the new alloy maintained the same crystal structure as tetragonal transition-metal zirconides, which are considered promising superconductors.
The lattice constants, or the dimensions of the repeating units within the crystal, were observed to vary smoothly with the changes in the iron to nickel ratio.
Importantly, the researchers identified a range of compositions where the superconducting transition temperature initially increased before declining. This “dome-like” profile is a significant indicator of unconventional superconductivity.
