Superconductivity is the property of some materials to have strictly zero electrical resistance
This quantum phenomenon occurs at very low temperatures close to absolute zero or 0 Kelvin (-273.15 °C), while the alpha phase of molybdenum carbide is superconducting at 4 Kelvin (-269.15 °C), said Mauricio Terrones, authorinvestigations.
When layering metastable phases of carbidemolybdenum to molybdenum sulfide, superconductivity occurs already at 6 Kelvin. While this in itself is not remarkable - other materials are superconducting at temperatures up to 150 Kelvin - this phenomenon was unexpected. It heralds a new method for increasing superconductivity at higher temperatures in other superconducting materials.
Layers of molybdenum carbide and molybdenum sulfide provide superconductivity at 50% higher temperatures. Credit: Elizabeth Flores-Gomez Murray / Penn State
The team used simulation techniques to understand how the effect occurred experimentally.
Calculations using quantum mechanicshelped in the interpretation of experimental measurements to determine the structure of molybdenum carbide and molybdenum sulfide. This work is a good example of how synthesis, characterization and modeling of materials can come together to foster the discovery of new material systems with unique properties.
According to scientists, this is a fundamental discovery, although "no one believed that it would work." The phenomenon that scientists observe has not been previously seen.
The research team will continue to experiment with superconducting materials. Their goal is someday to find combinations of materials that can transfer energy with zero resistance.
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