New! Sign up for our free email newsletter.
Science News
from research organizations

Discovery of novel gold-based superconductor

Date:
April 27, 2014
Source:
National Institute for Materials Science
Summary:
A novel superconductor, SrAuSi3, which contains gold as a principal constituent element has been synthesized by researchers. Up until now, research on superconductivity with broken spatial inversion symmetry has mostly focused on compounds that contain a relatively heavy element M, such as rhodium (Rh), iridium (Ir), and platinum (Pt). However, using a high-pressure synthesis method, the team successfully synthesized for the first time a compound with the same general chemical formula but using gold (Au), which is even heavier, as element M.
Share:
FULL STORY

Researchers at Japan's National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS) have synthesized a novel superconductor, SrAuSi3, which contains gold as a principal constituent element.

Led by Masaaki Isobe, a team consisting of Hiroyuki Yoshida, Koji Kimoto, Masao Arai and Eiji Muromachi recently searched for novel substances that lack spatial inversion symmetry in their crystal structures. They successfully synthesized a new compound, SrAuSi3, and found that it exhibits superconductivity at an absolute temperature of 1.6 K (-271.55°C). This compound belongs to a group with a so-called BaNiSn3-type structure (general chemical formula: AMX3, where M represents a transition-metal element).

Up until now, research on superconductivity with broken spatial inversion symmetry has mostly focused on compounds that contain a relatively heavy element M, such as rhodium (Rh), iridium (Ir), and platinum (Pt). However, using a high-pressure synthesis method, the team successfully synthesized for the first time a compound with the same general chemical formula but using gold (Au), which is even heavier, as element M.

One of the predicted properties associated with superconductivity with broken spatial inversion symmetry is the extremely high upper critical field (the maximum magnetic field value at which superconductivity is sustained). The discovery of this substance is expected to contribute not only to an understanding of the mechanism involved in superconductivity with broken spatial inversion symmetry but also to the development of new superconducting materials that can be used in a magnetic field.

The results of this research were published in the March 25, 2014 issue (Volume 6, Issue 6) of Chemistry of Materials, a journal distributed by the American Chemical Society.


Story Source:

Materials provided by National Institute for Materials Science. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.


Journal Reference:

  1. Masaaki Isobe, Hiroyuki Yoshida, Koji Kimoto, Masao Arai, Eiji Takayama-Muromachi. SrAuSi3: A Noncentrosymmetric Superconductor. Chemistry of Materials, 2014; 26 (6): 2155 DOI: 10.1021/cm500032u

Cite This Page:

National Institute for Materials Science. "Discovery of novel gold-based superconductor." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 27 April 2014. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/04/140427190726.htm>.
National Institute for Materials Science. (2014, April 27). Discovery of novel gold-based superconductor. ScienceDaily. Retrieved March 28, 2024 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/04/140427190726.htm
National Institute for Materials Science. "Discovery of novel gold-based superconductor." ScienceDaily. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/04/140427190726.htm (accessed March 28, 2024).

Explore More

from ScienceDaily

RELATED STORIES