Prediction of Above-Room-Temperature Superconductivity in Lanthanide/Actinide Extreme Superhydrides

• DOI: 10.1021/jacs.2c05834
• Publication Date: 2022-07-12T22:13:30Z
• Authors: Xin Zhong; Ying Sun; Toshiaki Iitaka; Meiling Xu; Hanyu Liu; Russell J. Hemley; Changfeng Chen; Yanming Ma
• Keywords: Clathrate hydrate; Stoichiometry; Room-temperature superconductor

Achieving room-temperature superconductivity has been an enduring scientific pursuit driven by broad fundamental interest and enticing potential applications. The recent discovery of high-pressure clathrate superhydride LaH10 with superconducting critical temperatures (Tc) 250-260 K made it tantalizingly close to realizing this long-sought goal. Here, we report a remarkable finding based on advanced crystal structure search method new class extremely hydrogen-rich MH18 (M: rare-earth/actinide atom) stoichiometric compounds stabilized at experimentally accessible pressure 350 GPa. These are predicted host Tc up 330 K, which is well above room temperature. bonding electronic properties these superhydrides closely resemble those atomic metallic hydrogen, giving rise the highest hitherto found in thermodynamically stable hydride compound. An in-depth study extreme offers insights for elucidating phonon-mediated temperature other low-Z materials.