Scientists turn common semiconductor into a superconductor
> A team has made germanium, a key semiconductor, superconducting by precisely integrating gallium atoms into its crystal lattice.
> Date:
> October 30, 2025
> Source:
> New York University
> Summary:
> Researchers have made germanium superconducting for the first time, a feat that could transform computing and quantum technologies.
> Using molecular beam epitaxy to embed gallium atoms precisely, the team stabilized the crystal structure to carry current without resistance.
> The discovery paves the way for scalable, energy-efficient quantum devices and cryogenic electronics.
> Link:
>formatting link
> Not exactly at room temperature yet ;-)
> quote:
> although this substitution slightly distorts the crystal,
> it preserves its overall stability and allows it to carry current with zero resistance at 3.5 Kelvin (about -453 degrees Fahrenheit),
> confirming that it had become superconducting.
> end quote
>
> Maybe useful in space?
Certainly interesting, but still a long way from being anything like useful. The bit about the researchers creating Josephson junctions is probably the most interesting part of the article, but 3.5K is below the boiling point of liquid helium - 4.23K. Helium-3 boils at an even lower temperature - 3.19K - but it is rather hard to get hold of.
The University of NSW has some for their quantum computer, but the story was that had been collected as alpha particles coming out of American nuclear reactors - not a high volume source.