Physicists break longstanding high-temperature superconductivity record at ambient pressure
Why it matters: Higher‑temperature superconductors could slash power losses and lower costs for health‑critical technologies.
- University of Houston (TcSUH) led by Ching‑Wu Chu and Liangzi Deng achieved a transition temperature of 151 K under ambient pressure, surpassing the 1993 Hg1223 record of 133 K.
- Pressure‑quenching—a technique borrowed from other material studies—enabled the new record, offering a fresh route beyond traditional high‑pressure synthesis.
- Energy sector could recover billions by eliminating the ~8 % transmission loss, while medical imaging stands to gain cheaper, more efficient MRI machines.
- Room‑temperature goal is now only ~20 K away, suggesting the timeline for practical superconductors may be shorter than earlier forecasts.
University of Houston physicists have set a new ambient‑pressure superconductivity record at 151 K, 18 °C above the previous high, using pressure‑quenching techniques. The breakthrough narrows the gap to room‑temperature superconductors, promising cheaper, loss‑free power grids and more accessible medical imaging.
