Unveiling a novel metal-to-metal transition in LuH2: Critically challenging superconductivity claims in lutetium hydrides
Year: 2024
Authors: Wang D., Wang NN., Zhang CS., Xia CS., Guo WC., Yin X., Bu KJ., Nakagawa T., Zhang JB., Gorelli F., Dalladay-Simpson P., Meier T., L’ XJ., Sun LL., Cheng JG., Zeng QS., Ding Y., Mao HK.
Autors Affiliation: Ctr High Pressure Sci & Technol Adv Res, Beijing 100094, Peoples R China; Chinese Acad Sci, Beijing Natl Lab Condensed Matter Phys, Beijing 100190, Peoples R China; Chinese Acad Sci, Inst Phys, Beijing 100190, Peoples R China; Shanghai Adv Res Phys Sci SHARPS, Shanghai Key Lab Mat Frontiers Res Extreme Enviro, Shanghai 201203, Peoples R China.
Abstract: Following the recent report by Dasenbrock-Gammon et al. [Nature 615, 244-250 (2023)] of near-ambient superconductivity in nitrogen-doped lutetium trihydride (LuH3-N-delta(epsilon)), significant debate has emerged surrounding the composition and interpretation of the observed sharp resistance drop. Here, we meticulously revisit these claims through comprehensive characterization and investigations. We definitively identify the reported material as lutetium dihydride (LuH2), resolving the ambiguity surrounding its composition. Under similar conditions (270-295 K and 1-2 GPa), we replicate the reported sharp decrease in electrical resistance with a 30% success rate, aligning with the observations by Dasenbrock-Gammon et al. However, our extensive investigations reveal this phenomenon to be a novel pressure-induced metal-to-metal transition intrinsic to LuH2, distinct from superconductivity. Intriguingly, nitrogen doping exerts minimal impact on this transition. Our work not only elucidates the fundamental properties of LuH2 and LuH3, but also critically challenges the notion of superconductivity in these lutetium hydride systems. These findings pave the way for future research on lutetium hydride systems, while emphasizing the crucial importance of rigorous verification in claims of ambient-temperature superconductivity.
Journal/Review: MATTER AND RADIATION AT EXTREMES
Volume: 9 (3) Pages from: 37401-1 to: 37401-9
More Information: We are grateful to F. Liu and L. Yang for their help with the X-ray diffraction experiments. Y. Ding is also grateful for support from the National Key Research and Development Program of China (Grant Nos. 2022YFA1402301 and 2018YFA0305703) and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. U2230401). J. G. Cheng is supported by the National Key R&D Program of China (Grant No. 2021YFA1400200), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 12025408 and 11921004), and the Strategic Priority Research Program of CAS (Grant No. XDB33000000).KeyWords: Ambients; Condition; Electrical resistances; Fundamental properties; Metal transition; Nitrogen-doped; Nitrogen-doping; Resistance drop; Sharp resistanceDOI: 10.1063/5.0183701Citations: 1data from “WEB OF SCIENCE” (of Thomson Reuters) are update at: 2024-10-20References taken from IsiWeb of Knowledge: (subscribers only)