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Title: Potential high- T c superconducting lanthanum and yttrium hydrides at high pressure

Journal Article · · Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
 [1];  [1];  [2];  [3];  [4]
  1. Geophysical Laboratory, Carnegie Institution of Washington, Washington, DC 20015,
  2. Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853,
  3. Laboratory of Atomic and Solid State Physics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853,
  4. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The George Washington University, Washington, DC 20052,, School of Applied and Engineering Physics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853

In this paper, a systematic structure search in the La–H and Y–H systems under pressure reveals some hydrogen-rich structures with intriguing electronic properties. For example, LaH10 is found to adopt a sodalite-like face-centered cubic (fcc) structure, stable above 200 GPa, and LaH8 a C2/m space group structure. Phonon calculations indicate both are dynamically stable; electron phonon calculations coupled to Bardeen–Cooper–Schrieffer (BCS) arguments indicate they might be high-Tc superconductors. In particular, the superconducting transition temperature Tc calculated for LaH10 is 274–286 K at 210 GPa. Similar calculations for the Y–H system predict stability of the sodalite-like fcc YH10 and a Tc above room temperature, reaching 305–326 K at 250 GPa. Finally, the study suggests that dense hydrides consisting of these and related hydrogen polyhedral networks may represent new classes of potential very high-temperature superconductors.

Research Organization:
Carnegie Inst. of Washington, Washington, DC (United States); Energy Frontier Research Centers (EFRC) (United States). Energy Frontier Research in Extreme Environments (EFree)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES); USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)
Grant/Contract Number:
SC0001057; NA0002006
OSTI ID:
1367773
Alternate ID(s):
OSTI ID: 1465964
Journal Information:
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, Journal Name: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America Vol. 114 Journal Issue: 27; ISSN 0027-8424
Publisher:
Proceedings of the National Academy of SciencesCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Citation Metrics:
Cited by: 506 works
Citation information provided by
Web of Science

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