Recently, Florian Trybel and Ferenc Tasnádi from IFM have computationally described the properties of new tungsten nitride phases which can be classified as ultra-incompressible superconductors. The W2N3 and W3N5 materials were synthesized by experimental collaborators (see press release here) at extreme pressure and temperature conditions in diamond anvil cells. The materials feature extremely high incompressibility with bulk moduli >350 GPa, calculated hardness values of 30 GPa and superconducting transition temperatures of ~10 K. Both materials are recoverable to ambient conditions and stable in air.
“This finding is a large step towards new industrially relevant materials that shine in applications requiring both high hardness and good electrical conductivity. Their discovery provides another example of how extreme conditions can give unique access to multi-functional materials that have otherwise not been found.”says Florian Trybel, leading the theory team.
Ferenc Tasnádi added “This is yet another example of challenging tasks where advanced supercomputers can help us to understand complex properties. We see more and more how results from high-pressure science and technology teach us new science and open up new dimensions to advance our computational capabilities.”
