New preprint announcement
Prediction and synthesis of Mg4Pt3H6 – A new ambient-pressure superconducting hydride
Most known high-temperature superconducting hydrides require extreme pressures to remain stable. Finding materials that are superconducting and also stable at or near ambient pressure is a central challenge in the field.
In our latest preprint (arXiv:2505.22546), we report the prediction and successful synthesis of a new ternary hydride, Mg4Pt3H6, which is both metallic and recoverable at ambient pressure.
Ab initio crystal structure prediction singled out Mg4Pt3H6 as the only thermodynamically stable ternary phase in the Mg–Pt–H system at low pressure. It was predicted to be both metallic and dynamically stable. We tested this directly: synthesized the compound at 8–25 GPa using laser-heated diamond anvil cells, and confirmed its structure with synchrotron X-ray diffraction.
Mg4Pt3H6 adopts a body-centered cubic structure made of Mg2+ ions and linear [PtH2]2− complexes. Unlike most hydrido complexes, which are insulating, this material is metallic. Electrical transport measurements show a clear superconducting transition with Tc = 2.9 K at ambient pressure.
This project was a very collaborative effort, involving contributions from theory and experiment across multiple institutions. From structure prediction to synthesis, structural characterization, and transport measurements, the work highlights the power of combining theoretical design with high-pressure experimental techniques.
We believe Mg4Pt3H6 is a strong example of how complex hydrides can serve as a platform for low-pressure superconductivity, and we’re excited about what this means for future materials discovery.
