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Actinium Borohydrides: A New Frontier in Superconductivity

Actinium borohydrides show promise for high-temperature superconductors under manageable pressures.

Tingting Gu, Wenwen Cui, Jian Hao, Jingming Shi, Artur P. Durajski, Hanyu Liu, Yinwei Li

― 6 min read


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Superconductors are materials that can conduct electricity without any resistance when cooled below a certain temperature. This temperature is called the critical temperature. Scientists are always on the lookout for new materials that can become superconductors at higher temperatures, especially at pressures that are easier to achieve. One exciting area of research involves ternary compounds, which are made up of three different elements. Actinium borohydrides are part of this realm and show promise for high-temperature Superconductivity.

What Are Actinium Borohydrides?

So, what exactly are actinium borohydrides? They are chemical compounds that include actinium (Ac), boron (B), and Hydrogen (H). Actinium is a rare and radioactive metal that behaves similarly to more common elements like lanthanum. Scientists believe that by combining actinium with boron and hydrogen, they can create materials that have better superconducting properties under certain conditions.

Recent Discoveries in Superconductivity

Recent discoveries in the field have shown that some hydrides can become superconductors at higher temperatures when subjected to very high pressures. For example, compounds like LaBeH and LaB H have been noted for their impressive Critical Temperatures at pressures around 80-90 GPa. This exciting progress spurs the idea that actinium borohydrides might also display similar superconducting properties under extreme conditions.

The Research Process

Research into actinium borohydrides involves examining their crystal structures and how they behave under different pressures. Scientists use advanced computational methods to predict which combinations of actinium, boron, and hydrogen will yield stable compounds with superconducting properties.

In their quest for knowledge, researchers identified nine stable compounds of actinium borohydrides, which are like hidden gems waiting to be explored. Among these, the compound AcBH has shown great promise, boasting a critical temperature of 122 K at a pressure of 70 GPa.

The Challenges of High-Pressure Superconductors

One major challenge is that achieving the high pressures needed for superconductivity, often exceeding 100 GPa, can be tricky. Scientists have to be creative in their approach. They discovered that by adding light elements like carbon to bind with hydrogen, they could lower the pressure needed for certain compounds to remain stable and superconductive.

This innovative strategy can help researchers synthesize new materials that are stable under lower pressures while maintaining good superconducting properties.

The Ternary Hydrides Advantage

Ternary hydrides are the new kids on the block. They allow for the addition of new elements and configurations that can broaden the search for materials with superior superconducting abilities. By mixing actinium with boron and hydrogen, scientists hope to find compounds that show high critical temperatures at manageable pressures.

What Makes Ac-B-H Compounds Special?

The beauty of actinium borohydrides lies in their unique structures. Researchers have found that the interactions between the boron and hydrogen atoms play a key role in their stability and superconductivity. These materials have various bonding configurations, which can lead to different physical properties.

For instance, some structures have a methane-like configuration where hydrogen atoms are directly bonded to boron. These unique arrangements can result in enhanced superconductivity, making them interesting candidates for further study.

Examining the Crystal Structures

To delve deeper, scientists use computational models to visualize the crystal structures of these actinium borohydrides. They aim to create complex structures comprising alternating layers of actinium, boron, and hydrogen, which can alter their properties significantly.

Each structure's stability is assessed at different pressures, revealing a fascinating landscape of possible configurations. Among the nine compounds, several have been determined to have metallic properties, signaling potential for superconductivity.

The Role of Hydrogen

Hydrogen is a star player in the superconductivity game. Due to its small atomic mass and strong vibrational frequencies, hydrogen contributes significantly to the material's ability to become superconductive. It interacts with other elements in such a way that promotes electron pairing, a crucial aspect of superconductivity.

The findings indicate that compounds containing more hydrogen tend to exhibit better superconducting characteristics. For instance, as the amount of hydrogen in actinium borohydrides increases, so too do the materials' ability to show superconductivity.

Predictions and Calculations

Using advanced computational tools, researchers perform extensive calculations to predict how these materials will behave under pressure. They simulate various conditions and structures, resulting in predictions about which compounds could function as superconductors at high temperatures.

Through these calculations, scientists discover that AcBH retains its superconductivity even at reduced pressures and temperatures. It showcases the potential to serve as a superconductor that could operate under practical conditions.

The Dynamic Stability of Ac-B-H Compounds

Dynamic stability is a fancy term that refers to the compound's ability to withstand changes in pressure without falling apart. Actinium borohydrides show promise in this area, with researchers finding that several compounds remain stable even as conditions are altered.

This discovery is crucial as it opens the door to the possibility of creating practical superconductors that can operate under conditions more achievable outside of a lab.

Exploring Superconductivity Parameters

When researchers study superconductors, they examine several parameters that can help predict how well these materials perform. Some key aspects include Electron-Phonon Coupling, which describes how electrons and phonons (vibrations within the material) interact. A stronger coupling usually translates to better superconductivity.

Several calculated parameters have indicated that AcBH may be an excellent candidate, with values showing high potential for superconductivity at moderate pressures.

Comparing Ac-B-H with Established Superconductors

Comparative studies have shown that actinium borohydrides might hold their own against more established superconductors. For instance, LaBH has already been proven to be stable at higher pressures. However, AcBH has demonstrated its unique strengths, notably at lower pressures.

This is akin to trying out different sports teams to see which one performs better under certain conditions. AcBH is emerging as the dark horse in the race for high-temperature superconductors.

Future Implications for Superconductivity Research

The research into actinium borohydrides opens up exciting possibilities for future studies and experiments. The promising results surrounding AcBH and other compounds can encourage scientists to synthesize new materials and test their properties under various conditions.

Furthermore, as researchers refine their methods and explore more combinations, the field of superconductivity may witness a breakthrough that propels us into a new age of energy-efficient technologies.

Conclusion

Actinium borohydrides represent a fascinating avenue in the search for high-temperature superconductors. The combination of unique crystal structures, promising superconducting properties, and the ability to adapt to varying pressures holds great potential for the future.

As scientists continue their quest for knowledge, we can only hope that these materials will lead us toward practical applications that make energy use more efficient and sustainable. Who knows? The next big leap in technology might just come from the unlikeliest of places-actinium borohydrides!

Original Source

Title: Prediction of high-Tc superconductivity under submegabar pressure in ternary actinium borohydrides

Abstract: Ternary hydrides are considered as the ideal candidates with high critical temperature (Tc) stabilized at submegabar pressure, evidenced by the recent discoveries in LaBeH8 (110 K at 80 GPa) and LaB2H8 (106 K at 90 GPa). Here, we investigate the crystal structures and superconductivity of an Ac-B-H system under pressures of 100 and 200 GPa by using an advanced structure method combined with first-principles calculations. As a result, nine stable compounds were identified, where B atoms are bonded with H atoms in the formation with diverse BHx motifs, e.g., methanelike (BH4), polythenelike, (BH2)n,andBH6 octahedron. Among them, seven Ac-B-H compounds were found to become superconductive. In particular, AcBH7 was estimated to have a Tc of 122 K at 70 GPa. Our in-depth analysis reveals that the B-H interactions in the BH6 units play a key role in its high superconductivity and stability at submegabar pressure. Our current results provide a guidance for future experiments to synthesize ternary hydride superconductors with high-Tc at moderate pressure.

Authors: Tingting Gu, Wenwen Cui, Jian Hao, Jingming Shi, Artur P. Durajski, Hanyu Liu, Yinwei Li

Last Update: Nov 28, 2024

Language: English

Source URL: https://arxiv.org/abs/2411.19014

Source PDF: https://arxiv.org/pdf/2411.19014

Licence: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/

Changes: This summary was created with assistance from AI and may have inaccuracies. For accurate information, please refer to the original source documents linked here.

Thank you to arxiv for use of its open access interoperability.

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