Researchers reach superconductivity at ambient pressure, record high temperature — milestone of -122°C reached by using pressure quenching, still 140 degrees off room temperature target

Researchers at the University of Houston have achieved superconductivity at ambient pressure with a record high transition temperature of -122°C using a pressure quenching technique. This milestone marks progress towards practical superconducting systems, although they are still 140°C away from room temperature superconductivity. The study focused on a mercury-based cuprate superconductor known as Hg1223, known for its high transition temperatures. The pressure quenching method involves applying pressure to enhance electronic properties and then cooling the sample before abruptly removing the pressure to maintain improved superconducting behavior at ambient pressure. This advancement simplifies experimentation and development of superconductors for various applications in electronics, energy, medicine, and industry.