. 24/7 Space News .
ENERGY TECH
Induced flaws in quantum materials could enhance superconducting properties
by Staff Writers
Minneapolis MN (SPX) Oct 05, 2021

stock illustration only

In a surprising discovery, an international team of researchers, led by scientists in the University of Minnesota Center for Quantum Materials, found that deformations in quantum materials that cause imperfections in the crystal structure can actually improve the material's superconducting and electrical properties.

The groundbreaking findings could provide new insight for developing the next generation of quantum-based computing and electronic devices.

The research just appeared in Nature Materials, a peer-reviewed scientific journal published by Nature Publishing Group.

"Quantum materials have unusual magnetic and electrical properties that, if understood and controlled, could revolutionize virtually every aspect of society and enable highly energy-efficient electrical systems and faster, more accurate electronic devices," said study co-author Martin Greven, a Distinguished McKnight Professor in the University of Minnesota's School of Physics and Astronomy and the Director of the Center for Quantum Materials.

"The ability to tune and modify the properties of quantum materials is pivotal to advances in both fundamental research and modern technology."

Elastic deformation of materials occurs when the material is subjected to stress but returns to its original shape once the stress is removed. In contrast, plastic deformation is the non-reversible change of a material's shape in response to an applied stress-or, more simply, the act of squeezing or stretching it until it loses its shape. Plastic deformation has been used by blacksmiths and engineers for thousands of years. An example of a material with a large plastic deformation range is wet chewing gum, which can be stretched to dozens of times its original length.

While elastic deformation has been extensively used to study and manipulate quantum materials, the effects of plastic deformation have not yet been explored. In fact, conventional wisdom would lead scientists to believe that "squeezing" or "stretching" quantum materials may remove their most intriguing properties.

In this pioneering new study, the researchers used plastic deformation to create extended periodic defect structures in a prominent quantum material known as strontium titanate (SrTiO3). The defect structures induced changes in the electrical properties and boosted superconductivity.

"We were quite surprised with the results" Greven said. "We went into this thinking that our techniques would really mess up the material. We would have never guessed that these imperfections would actually improve the materials' superconducting properties, which means that, at low enough temperatures, it could carry electricity without any energy waste."

Greven said this study demonstrates the great promise of plastic deformation as a tool to manipulate and create new quantum materials. It can lead to novel electronic properties, including materials with high potential for applications in technology, he said.

Greven also said the new study highlights the power of state-of-the-art neutron and x-ray scattering probes in deciphering the complex structures of quantum materials and of a scientific approach that combines experiment and theory.

"Scientists can now use these techniques and tools to study thousands of other materials," Greven said. "I expect that we will discover all kinds of new phenomena along the way."

In addition to the University of Minnesota, the team included researchers from the University of Zagreb, Croatia; Ariel University, Israel; Peking University, Beijing, China; Oak Ridge National Laboratory; and Argonne National Laboratory.

The research was funded primarily by the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science. The team used resources at the Spallation Neutron Source at Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the Advanced Photon Source at Argonne National Laboratory, which are both U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science facilities. The researchers also used facilities at the Minnesota Nano Center at the University of Minnesota, which is supported by the National Science Foundation.

Research Report: "Enhanced superconductivity and ferroelectric quantum criticality in plastically deformed strontium titanate"


Related Links
University Of Minnesota
Powering The World in the 21st Century at Energy-Daily.com


Thanks for being there;
We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain.

With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords.

Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year.

If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.
SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter
$5+ Billed Monthly


paypal only
SpaceDaily Contributor
$5 Billed Once


credit card or paypal


ENERGY TECH
UCLA bioengineers develop new class of human-powered bioelectronics
Los Angeles CA (SPX) Oct 01, 2021
A team of bioengineers at the UCLA Samueli School of Engineering has invented a novel soft and flexible self-powered bioelectronic device. The technology converts human body motions - from bending an elbow to subtle movements such as a pulse on one's wrist - into electricity that could be used to power wearable and implantable diagnostic sensors. The researchers discovered that the magnetoelastic effect, which is the change of how much a material is magnetized when tiny magnets are constantly push ... read more

Comment using your Disqus, Facebook, Google or Twitter login.



Share this article via these popular social media networks
del.icio.usdel.icio.us DiggDigg RedditReddit GoogleGoogle

ENERGY TECH
Prince William tells space tourists: fix Earth instead

Blue Origin launches William Shatner, TV's Captain Kirk, into space and back

NASA announces astronaut changes for upcoming Commercial Crew Missions

Thomas Pesquet takes commanding role on Space Station

ENERGY TECH
Japanese billionaire Maezawa 'not afraid' ahead of ISS launch

NASA's SLS passes key review for Artemis I ,ission

NASA Announces 60 Teams for 2022 Student Launch Competition

SpaceX will debut new Dragon capsule for upcoming crew launch

ENERGY TECH
NASA plans careful restart for Mars helicopter after quiet period

NASA selects crew for simulated trip to a Mars Moon

Using dunes to interpret wind on Mars

Lake breach flooding played big role in Martian geography

ENERGY TECH
Chinese astronauts arrive at space station for longest mission

China to launch latest crewed space mission Saturday morning

China's Mars probes suspend explorations due to Sun outage

Building a home in the sky

ENERGY TECH
Russian Soyuz rocket launches 36 new UK satellites

Macron announces 30-billion-euro plan to re-industrialise France

Spire Global and SpaceChain announce new partnership

GomSpace signs a contract with SpaceAble to enhance the sustainability of Low Earth Orbit

ENERGY TECH
One in three young kids uses social media, use of parental controls spotty

French cloud computing IPO mints Europe's latest tech billionaire

Simulating space on Earth: NASA receives hardware for testing satellite servicing tech

eFootball fiasco symptom of growing rush to bring out games

ENERGY TECH
NASA scientist looks to AI, lensing to find masses of free-floating planets

First planet to orbit 3 Stars discovered

Planets gone rogue could sustain life

Investigating the potential for life around the galaxy's smallest stars

ENERGY TECH
SwRI scientists confirm decrease in Pluto's atmospheric density

Hubble shows winds in Jupiter's Great Red Spot are speeding up

Come on in, the water is superionic

Mushballs stash away missing ammonia at Uranus and Neptune









The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.