Issue 18, 2019

Structure–property correlations in phase-pure B-doped Q-carbon high-temperature superconductor with a record Tc = 55 K

Abstract

Here, we report the detailed structure–property correlations in phase-pure B-doped Q-carbon high-temperature superconductor having a superconducting transition temperature (Tc) of 55 K. This superconducting phase is a result of nanosecond laser melting and subsequent quenching of a highly super undercooled state of molten B-doped C. The temperature-dependent resistivity in different magnetic fields and magnetic susceptibility measurements indicate a type-II Bardeen–Cooper–Schrieffer superconductivity in B-doped Q-carbon thin films. The magnetic measurements indicate that the upper and lower critical fields follow Hc2(0)[1 − (T/Tc)1.77] and Hc1(0)[1 − (T/Tc)1.19] temperature dependence, respectively. The structure–property characterization of B-doped Q-carbon indicates a high density of electronic states near the Fermi-level and large electron–phonon coupling. These factors are responsible for s-wave bulk type superconductivity with enhanced Tc in B-doped Q-carbon. The time-dependent magnetic moment measurements indicate that B-doped Q-carbon thin films follow the Anderson–Kim logarithmic decay model having high values of pinning potential at low temperatures. The crossover from the two-dimensional to the three-dimensional nature of Cooper pair transport at T/Tc = 1.02 also indicates a high value of electron–phonon coupling which is also calculated using the McMillan formula. The superconducting region in B-doped Q-carbon is enclosed by Tc = 55.0 K, Jc = 5.0 × 108 A cm−2, and Hc2 = 9.75 T superconducting parameters. The high values of critical current density and pinning potential also indicate that B-doped Q-carbon can be used for persistent mode of operation in MRI and NMR applications. The Cooper pairs which are responsible for the high-temperature superconductivity are formed when B exists in the sp3 sites of C. The electron energy loss spectroscopy and Raman spectroscopy indicate a 75% sp3 bonded C and 70% sp3 bonded B in the superconducting phase of B-doped Q-carbon which has 27 at% B and rest C. The dimensional fluctuation and magnetic relaxation measurements in B-doped Q-carbon indicate its practical applications in frictionless motors and high-speed electronics. This discovery of high-temperature superconductivity in strongly-bonded and light-weight materials using non-equilibrium synthesis will provide the pathway to achieve room-temperature superconductivity.

Graphical abstract: Structure–property correlations in phase-pure B-doped Q-carbon high-temperature superconductor with a record Tc = 55 K

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
18 Jan 2019
Accepted
16 Apr 2019
First published
16 Apr 2019

Nanoscale, 2019,11, 9141-9154

Author version available

Structure–property correlations in phase-pure B-doped Q-carbon high-temperature superconductor with a record Tc = 55 K

A. Bhaumik and J. Narayan, Nanoscale, 2019, 11, 9141 DOI: 10.1039/C9NR00562E

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