English

Isotropic Superconductivity in Room-temperature Superconductor LaSc$_{2}$H$_{24}$

Superconductivity 2026-01-06 v1

Abstract

The discovery of LaSc2_{2}H24_{24} represents a milestone in the quest for room-temperature superconductivity, yet the microscopic mechanism underlying its superior performance remains unclear. Through a comprehensive revisit of theoretical calculations, we uncover a pivotal transition from the anisotropic two-gap superconductivity of LaH10_{10} to the isotropic single-gap superconductivity in LaSc2_{2}H24_{24} upon the introduction of scandium, thereby enhancing the superconducting critical temperature (TcT_\mathrm{c}). This enhancement is rooted in a critical dual role of Sc 3d3d electrons: i) the Sc-derived Jahn-Teller effect promotes hydrogen metallization via the elongation of specific interlayer H-H bonds and enhances electron-phonon coupling (EPC) through the softening of associated phonon modes; ii) Sc 3d3d electrons reconstruct the electronic structure into an MgB2_{2}-like configuration, generating novel Sc-H-Sc σ\sigma- and π\pi-bonding states with EPC strengths comparable to LaH10_{10}. Crucially, the pronounced hybridization between Sc and the hydrogen cages effectively unifies these two contributions on the Fermi surface. This Sc-induced gap unification bridges the high-EPC H-H states with widespread Sc-H states, establishing an isotropic single-gap nature with a large overall EPC strength. Our findings identify this Sc-induced gap unification as the fundamental mechanism for achieving room-temperature superconductivity in LaSc2_{2}H24_{24}, offering a theoretical blueprint for the future design of superior superconducting hydrides.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.2601.01398,
  title  = {Isotropic Superconductivity in Room-temperature Superconductor LaSc$_{2}$H$_{24}$},
  author = {Zefang Wang and Wenbo Zhao and Yuan Ma and Hanyu Liu and Yanming Ma},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2601.01398},
  year   = {2026}
}

Comments

5 pages, 4 figures