Emergence of superconductivity in doped H₂O ice at high pressure.

ABSTRACT: We investigate the possibility of achieving high-temperature superconductivity in hydrides under pressure by inducing metallization of otherwise insulating phases through doping, a path previously used to render standard semiconductors superconducting at ambient pressure. Following this idea, we study H₂O, one of the most abundant and well-studied substances, we identify nitrogen as the most likely and promising substitution/dopant. We show that for realistic levels of doping of a few percent, the phase X of ice becomes superconducting with a critical temperature of about 60 K at 150 GPa. In view of the vast number of hydrides that are strongly covalent bonded, but that remain insulating up to rather large pressures, our results open a series of new possibilities in the quest fo

SUBMITTER: Flores-Livas JA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5533783 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature