Superconductivity in bcc-selenium under megabar pressure

Abstract We report enhanced superconductivity in the selenium on the verge of the β-Po–bcc phase transition, achieving up to 9.4 K at 140 GPa. The onset of superconductivity is confirmed by a direct zero-resistance drop R(T), and its nature was further validated by its suppression under an external...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Zhongyan Wu, Timofey Fedotenko, Nico Giordano, Jaeyong Kim
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-04-01
Series:Scientific Reports
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-96469-7
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850153667148120064
author Zhongyan Wu
Timofey Fedotenko
Nico Giordano
Jaeyong Kim
author_facet Zhongyan Wu
Timofey Fedotenko
Nico Giordano
Jaeyong Kim
author_sort Zhongyan Wu
collection DOAJ
description Abstract We report enhanced superconductivity in the selenium on the verge of the β-Po–bcc phase transition, achieving up to 9.4 K at 140 GPa. The onset of superconductivity is confirmed by a direct zero-resistance drop R(T), and its nature was further validated by its suppression under an external magnetic field, $$\:{\mu\:}_{0}{H}_{c}\left(0\right)=0.26\:{\text{T}}$$ at 140 GPa. An anomalously high R(T) peak preceding the zero resistance state suggests granular superconductivity. Our studies indicate that selenium does not react with hydrogen at 182 GPa at room temperature nor 102 GPa with laser heating to 3000 K, implying that the synthesis of selenium hydride requires higher energy conditions than the ones predicted theoretically. Our findings offer insights into the mechanism of phase-transition-related enhanced superconductivity and motivate further study into the search for high $$\:{T}_{c}$$ superconductors in elements at extremely high pressure.
format Article
id doaj-art-80d1bfca91ed4f548081ea4830504f6b
institution OA Journals
issn 2045-2322
language English
publishDate 2025-04-01
publisher Nature Portfolio
record_format Article
series Scientific Reports
spelling doaj-art-80d1bfca91ed4f548081ea4830504f6b2025-08-20T02:25:40ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-04-0115111010.1038/s41598-025-96469-7Superconductivity in bcc-selenium under megabar pressureZhongyan Wu0Timofey Fedotenko1Nico Giordano2Jaeyong Kim3Department of Physics, Institute for High Pressure, Hanyang UniversityDeutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESYDeutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESYDepartment of Physics, Institute for High Pressure, Hanyang UniversityAbstract We report enhanced superconductivity in the selenium on the verge of the β-Po–bcc phase transition, achieving up to 9.4 K at 140 GPa. The onset of superconductivity is confirmed by a direct zero-resistance drop R(T), and its nature was further validated by its suppression under an external magnetic field, $$\:{\mu\:}_{0}{H}_{c}\left(0\right)=0.26\:{\text{T}}$$ at 140 GPa. An anomalously high R(T) peak preceding the zero resistance state suggests granular superconductivity. Our studies indicate that selenium does not react with hydrogen at 182 GPa at room temperature nor 102 GPa with laser heating to 3000 K, implying that the synthesis of selenium hydride requires higher energy conditions than the ones predicted theoretically. Our findings offer insights into the mechanism of phase-transition-related enhanced superconductivity and motivate further study into the search for high $$\:{T}_{c}$$ superconductors in elements at extremely high pressure.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-96469-7
spellingShingle Zhongyan Wu
Timofey Fedotenko
Nico Giordano
Jaeyong Kim
Superconductivity in bcc-selenium under megabar pressure
Scientific Reports
title Superconductivity in bcc-selenium under megabar pressure
title_full Superconductivity in bcc-selenium under megabar pressure
title_fullStr Superconductivity in bcc-selenium under megabar pressure
title_full_unstemmed Superconductivity in bcc-selenium under megabar pressure
title_short Superconductivity in bcc-selenium under megabar pressure
title_sort superconductivity in bcc selenium under megabar pressure
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-96469-7
work_keys_str_mv AT zhongyanwu superconductivityinbccseleniumundermegabarpressure
AT timofeyfedotenko superconductivityinbccseleniumundermegabarpressure
AT nicogiordano superconductivityinbccseleniumundermegabarpressure
AT jaeyongkim superconductivityinbccseleniumundermegabarpressure