Stoichiometric Ternary Superhydride LaBeH_{8} as a New Template for High-Temperature Superconductivity at 110K under 80GPa.

Abstract

The search for high-temperature superconducting superhydrides has recently moved into a new phase by going beyond extensively probed binary compounds and focusing on ternary ones with vastly expanded material types and configurations for property optimization. Theoretical and experimental works have revealed promising ternary compounds that superconduct at or above room temperature, but it remains a pressing challenge to synthesize stoichiometric ternary compounds with a well-resolved crystal structure that can host high-temperature superconductivity at submegabar pressures. Here, we report on the successful synthesis of ternary LaBeH_{8} obtained via compression in a diamond anvil cell under 110-130GPa. X-ray diffraction unveils a rocksalt-like structure composing La and BeH_{8} units in the lattice. Transport measurements determined superconductivity with critical temperature T_{c} up to 110K at 80GPa, as evidenced by a sharp drop of resistivity to zero and a characteristic shift of T_{c} driven by a magnetic field. Our experiment establishes the first superconductive ternary compound with a resolved crystal structure. These findings raise the prospects of rational development of the class of high-T_{c} superhydrides among ternary compounds, opening greatly expanded and more diverse structural space for exploration and discovery of superhydrides with enhanced high-T_{c} superconductivity.