US lab decodes how superhydrides enable near-room-temperature superconductivity under extreme pressure

Researchers at Argonne National Laboratory used upgraded APS X-rays to study superhydrides under extreme pressure.

They added yttrium to lanthanum superhydride to stabilize the material and reduce the pressure needed for superconductivity.

The team used a diamond-anvil device and focused X-rays on micrometer-scale samples and identified two crystal structures with different superconducting temperatures.

The findings offer structural clues for designing superconductors that work at higher temperatures though the required pressures remain high.