Robust zero resistance in a superconducting high-entropy alloy at pressures up to 190 GPa

Jing Guo, Honghong Wang, Fabian Von Rohr, Zhe Wang, Shu Cai, Yazhou Zhou, Ke Yang, Aiguo Li, Sheng Jiang, Qi Wu, Robert J. Cava, Liling Sun

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

137 Scopus citations

Abstract

We report the observation of extraordinarily robust zero-resistance superconductivity in the pressurized (TaNb)0.67(HfZrTi)0.33 high-entropy alloy--a material with a body-centered-cubic crystal structure made from five randomly distributed transition-metal elements. The transition to superconductivity (TC) increases from an initial temperature of 7.7 K at ambient pressure to 10 K at ~60 GPa, and then slowly decreases to 9 K by 190.6 GPa, a pressure that falls within that of the outer core of the earth. We infer that the continuous existence of the zero-resistance superconductivity from 1 atm up to such a high pressure requires a special combination of electronic and mechanical characteristics. This high-entropy alloy superconductor thus may have a bright future for applications under extreme conditions, and also poses a challenge for understanding the underlying quantum physics.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)13144-13147
Number of pages4
JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
Volume114
Issue number50
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 12 2017

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • General

Keywords

  • High pressure
  • High-entropy alloy
  • Superconductivity

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