FeSe is the simplest type of superconductor among iron-based superconductors. Through different preparation and synthesis methods, its internal superconducting properties can also be changed.
For example, under normal pressure, it can only superconduct at a temperature below 8K; but by embedding or quenching under high pressure, its Superconducting Transition Temperature can increase sharply to 38K, and if it is a combination of embedding and high-pressure quenching, it will increase Superconducting Transition Temperature to 48K.
After that, scientists discovered that the single atomic layer of FeSe grown epitaxially on SrTiO3 was superconducting, with a transition temperature of 70K, and later even reached more than 100K.
For example, Xiao Yi studied FeSe/SrTiO3 single-layer superconductors and their mechanisms in the Academician Pang Cheng research group before.
It was this research that led him to target the material FeSe.
Of course, the most important thing is that this material is simple enough, requiring only two elements, unlike other high-temperature superconductors, such as Yttrium Barium Copper Oxide, which have four elements.
After such a long period of research and experiments, Xiao Yi finally found the most perfect form of superconducting FeSe through constant attempts.
"Different from the PbO-type FeSe structure under ordinary synthesis methods, the hexagonal close-packed FeSe has a stronger electron-spin density wave coupling, allowing it to reach a superconducting state at a temperature of 92K."
"This is still the case with silver doping. The doping of silver element weakens the coupling strength of its electron-spin density wave. Otherwise, the superconducting critical temperature can be increased to above 110K."
"But it's worth it."
Looking at the metal wire in his hand, Xiao Yi smiled slightly.
It is enough for the superconducting critical temperature to be above 77K. After all, liquid nitrogen is 77K. Any higher point is considered redundant. Compared with 77K, 92K is just 15K higher. It can be regarded as a very good redundancy from both an experimental and industrial perspective.
"Silver doping can enhance the mechanical strength and processability of the superconductor itself, making up for the brittleness caused by the hexagonal close-packing type."
The hexagonal close-packed structure is also called HCP structure. A typical example is magnesium. It is well known that magnesium is quite brittle, so much so that there are even videos on the Internet of specifically crushing magnesium metal to decompress it.
By doping silver, this brittleness is changed and its slip coefficient is increased, giving it the ability to plastically deform.
"It's perfect."
At this time, Xiao Yi has unknowingly activated the Material Mastery effect, and his vision has entered the microscopic view of the alloy wire in front of him, appreciating the perfect world within it.
Of course, he felt more and more in his heart, Material Mastery is really a super magic skill.
If it were not for Material Mastery, he would not have been able to discover FeSe in this structural form.
Hmm...
But considering that Material Mastery is his own fault.
He was able to do it based on his ability, so this silver-doped FeSe was developed based on his ability!
"Brother Xiao, what should we do next?"
At this time, the voices of Xu Ming and others came from the side.
Xiao Yi withdrew from Material Mastery's field of vision and looked at Xu Ming and the others.
At this time, Xu Ming and several people looked at Xiao Yi as if they were looking at gods.
In this month, they could almost say that under the leadership of Xiao Yi, they synthesized this new superconductor as if with divine help.
Well, it can't be said that it was a divine help. It should be said that Xiao Yi was that god, because every step they took was guided by Xiao Yi like an immortal, gradually leading to success.
This feeling is simply more exciting than following their senior sister to do experiments.
After all, with their senior sister, there is a possibility of being stumped by a problem for a long time, but with Xiao Yi, they don't seem to know what failure is.
Now, this result that is almost Nobel Prize in Physics is in their hands, and the excitement in their hearts is simply uncontrollable.
Upon hearing their questions, Xiao Yi just smiled and then said, "Of course I will publish a paper."
"But..."
He pinched his chin and said, "Don't mention the preparation method in the paper, just give the experimental results."
Xu Ming They were stunned for a moment, and then they all nodded, expressing their understanding.
If it is just a high-temperature superconductor, the preparation method can be disclosed casually, and there will be no problem.
But for the FeSe superconductor they have synthesized now, it is completely different. Anyone with a discerning eye can see that once this superconductor can be produced on a large scale, it will definitely become the only choice in today's superconductor market.
Whether compared to niobium-titanium alloy or Yttrium Barium Copper Oxide, this new FeSe superconductor has absolutely leading comprehensive advantages.
Considering the economic advantages alone, its preparation method is not suitable for publication.
There is no need to apply for a patent. Because of the complexity of the preparation process, there is basically no need to worry about others being able to find out how to prepare the material through reverse engineering.
It is even more important to consider its strategic value. After all, there are still quite a few technologies that can use superconductors in the world.
For example, MRI machine. The current MRI machine basically uses low-temperature superconductors, such as niobium-titanium alloy, niobium-tin alloy, etc. As for high-temperature superconductors like Yttrium Barium Copper Oxide, due to some internal defects and the insufficient critical magnetic field strength, it has not entered the technical scope of MRI machine.
However, according to the properties of FeSe, it will be enough to completely replace low-temperature superconductors such as niobium-titanium alloy and niobium-tin alloy and become the core component of the superconducting system of MRI machine.
Maybe taking this opportunity, they can help the domestic MRI machine enter the world market.
In addition, there are many other industries that will also be able to use this new superconductor.
Not to mention, it can also help important scientific research projects.
Quantum Information is one. In addition, the EAST Tokamak controllable nuclear fusion reactor on Science Island is also one of them.
"I'm going to write it now!"
Xu Ming said.
Xiao Yi nodded, and this matter was left to him.
According to what he said before, apart from him being the first author of the paper, Xu Ming can all be assigned to the second authorship.
With such an important achievement, it's pretty good that they can get a second game.
Even when the time comes to evaluate Natural Science Award, they will be able to go up.
Xiao Yi doesn't mind taking them with him.
"In addition, I have to contact Principal Bao and tell him the good news."
Xiao Yi smiled slightly. The fat principal supported him and gave him a total investment of 300 million. Now it is time to let Principal Bao know how valuable those 300 million are.
Hmm...
Even the entire Science Island Laboratory, plus the land below, is completely worth it.
He immediately took out his mobile phone and called Principal Bao.
Soon the call was connected, and Principal Bao's hearty laughter came from over there. "Professor Xiao, why are you free to call me today?"
"Don't you have something to do with Principal Bao?" Xiao Yi also smiled and said, "Haha, I didn't disturb you, did I?"
"That's not true. Tell me, what's the matter?" Bao Hexin said.
Xiao Yi said, "I would like to ask Principal Bao to come to Science Island Laboratory and show you something."
"Oh?" Bao Hexin said with a raised tone, "If it wasn't a surprise, I wouldn't come."
Xiao Yi smiled and said, "Don't worry, you won't regret coming."
"Okay, I'll come right away."
Bao Hexin said with a smile.
Then they didn't say anything more and hung up the phone.
Putting down the phone, Xiao Yi thought for a moment, and then made another call.
This time, what he told was Pan Wei.
The new FeSe superconductor, according to their experimental measurements, also has excellent quantum communication properties, such as high coherence time and low noise properties, which are the most important features for becoming a superconducting quantum computer superconductor.
So thinking about it, this new superconductor can also bring huge surprises to people like Pan Wei who study quantum computers.
Half an hour later.
"What? 92k Superconducting Transition Temperature? Even the critical current density is as high as 107th power amperes, and the critical magnetic field strength is at least 25T?"
"And it also changes the original brittleness of FeSe itself? Has good processability?"
"Are you sure you're not kidding??"
When Bao Hexin came to Science Island Laboratory and looked at the experimental report handed to him by Xiao Yi, his eyes widened and he looked at the data listed on the report in disbelief.
Beside him, Pan Wei's face was even more incredible.
"This... this... this..."
"The energy relaxation time is between 20 and 100 microseconds, and the phase coherence time is between 10 and 50 microseconds... This is a coherence time at the level of pure aluminum! How does this high-temperature superconductor do it?"
"The quality factor is also around 10^5 to 10^6, and the degree of energy loss and signal attenuation is actually so low!"
"There is also this tunnel junction characteristic... R*C is approximately equal to 1-10Ω·fF, which..."
For a moment, he couldn't help but stretched out a hand and touched his head, feeling deeply unbelievable.
This stuff is so much better than the pure aluminum, pure niobium and other superconductors they used before.
This is basically the best superconducting material for current superconducting quantum computers!
"How on earth is this done..."
The data was so good that he almost didn't suspect it was fake data.
The shocked looks of the two people caught the eyes of Xu Ming and the others who were watching.
They all couldn't help but chuckle.
These two big figures in the school actually have such moments of instability.
Not as good as them!
They completely forgot how shocked they were when they saw the experimental results for the first time.
Finally, Bao Hexin and Pan Wei both looked at Xiao Yi, who was beside him, even holding a cup of tea, and asked, "Xiao Yi, where is this thing?"
Xiao Yi chuckled, then put down the teacup in his hand and said, "Come on."
Finally, he took two people to the sample storage room, took out the new FeSe they synthesized, and showed it to them.
"You two can take two samples and go back for experiments."
The two looked at the samples in their hands.
There are no protective measures at all, which also shows that this material has good environmental resistance.
To put it simply, it is durable.
After pinching and bending, it is very flexible and does not look like a HCP structure material at all.
"Awesome." Bao Hexin couldn't help but sigh.
His own direction also has a lot to do with the material, and he knows very well how great the results of Xiao Yi are.
Pan Wei also nodded and said to Xiao Yi, "Thank you, Professor Xiao. I will try it when I get back now."
"In addition... when the production increases, can you give priority to providing a batch to our laboratory?"
Pan Wei requested.
If they want to build a superconducting quantum computer, they naturally need a certain amount of superconductors.
Xiao Yi smiled and said, "Of course it's no problem."
"Although the synthesis method is slightly complicated, there is no need to worry about the yield rate. Even if you want to produce it on a large scale, it will not be too difficult."
"That's good."
Pan Wei nodded.
Subsequently, Bao Hexin and Pan Wei did not stay long and returned to their laboratory with the samples to verify the properties of the samples.
The verification process didn't take long, and soon, they came to the same conclusion.
This new FeSe superconductor is currently the most perfect superconductor in the world!
And the results of their experiments spread immediately.
The most perfect high-temperature superconductor!
What an amazing result!
In almost one day, some laboratories in top domestic universities knew about this matter and sent applications to Science Island Laboratory, hoping to get a sample for measurement.
For these applications, Xiao Yi naturally did not reject them. They were just samples and would not be in the way.
As for asking about the preparation method, no one asked, because Xiao Yi has made it clear that it will not disclose the preparation method.
The preparation method of this thing probably has the qualifications to become a state secret.
However, in the past few days, it was only circulated in a small area and did not spread on a large scale.
It was not until three days later that after Xu Ming completed the paper, they first posted the paper on arxiv.
With the name Xiao Yi, the paper spread all over the world the day it was published.
In an instant, the whole Scientific Community trembled.
"Synthesized in Xiao Yi's laboratory? New FeSe superconductor?? Can it replace the most commonly used superconductors?"
"The most perfect superconductor in the world right now?"
"92K Superconducting Transition Temperature, a critical current density of 10^7A/cm^2, and a critical magnetic field strength of 27T?"
"I bought it!"
"..."
Whether it is the world of physics, Materials science community, or the world of chemistry, life Scientific Community, etc., everyone was stunned by this news.
Although quite a few new high-temperature superconductors have been born because of XSC theory, these high-temperature superconductors have not received much attention due to various shortcomings.
Of course, this did not make people lose confidence in XSC theory. After all, truly important results are never afraid of coming too late.
But what everyone never expected was that it appeared like this, and it was almost invulnerable.
Probably, except that it is not a room temperature superconductor, there is no difference in terms of application of this superconductor.