Superconductivity Observed in Tantalum Polyhydride at High Pressure

Authors :: He, X.
Zhang, C. L.
Li, Z. W.
Zhang, S. J.
Min, B. S.
Zhang, J.
Lu, K.
Zhao, J. F.
Shi, L. C.
Peng, Y.
Wang, X. C.
Feng, S. M.
Song, J.
Wang, L. H.
Prakapenka, V. B.
Chariton, S.
Liu, H. Z.
Jin, C. Q.
Source :: Chinese Physics Letters 40, 057404 (2023) (Express Letter)
Publication Year :: 2022
Abstract: We report experimental discovery of tantalum polyhydride superconductor. It was synthesized at high pressure and high temperature conditions using diamond anvil cell combined with in-situ high pressure laser heating techniques. The superconductivity was investigated via resistance measurements at pressures. The highest superconducting transition temperature Tc was found to be ~30 K at 197 GPa in the sample that was synthesized at the same pressure with ~2000 K heating. The transitions are shifted to low temperature upon applying magnetic fields that supports the superconductivity nature. The upper critical field at zero temperature {\mu}0Hc2(0) of the superconducting phase is estimated to be ~20 T that corresponds to GL coherent length ~40 angstroms. Our results suggest that the superconductivity may arise from I-43d phase of TaH3. It is, for the first time to our best knowledge, experimental realization of superconducting hydrides for the VB group of transitional metals.<br />Comment: Published by CPL