Full Breakdown
Chinese Researchers Reveal Nodeless Gap and Electron-Boson Coupling in Nickel-Based Superconductors
5/25/2026, 11:23:51 AM
Breakthrough in Nickel-Based High-Temperature Superconductivity
A joint team from the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) and the Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech) reported the first observation of a nodeless superconducting gap and clear electron-boson coupling in nickel-oxide high-temperature superconducting thin films. The work, performed at the Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences in Beijing, was published online in *Science* on May 22, 2026. Energy-dependent measurements revealed a uniform gap without nodes and a distinctive energy-fingerprint indicating bosonic excitations that may mediate pairing.
Background & Context
High-temperature superconductivity has been dominated by copper-oxide (cuprate) materials, whose gaps typically contain nodes. The symmetry of the gap and the nature of the pairing “glue” remain central questions. Nickel-based superconductors, a newer class, pose severe challenges in synthesis and electronic-structure probing. Demonstrating a nodeless gap in nickel oxides suggests they may follow different pairing rules, potentially reshaping theoretical models of high-temperature superconductivity.
Key Figures & Institutions
Xue Qikun, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and professor at SUSTech, led the effort. The University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) supplied thin-film growth expertise, while SUSTech contributed data analysis and theoretical interpretation. The Institute of Physics, CAS, provided the laboratory for the measurements.
Data & Findings
Energy-dependent data showed a fully uniform gap across momentum space, contrasting with the nodal gaps of cuprates. An energy-dependent feature identified as a bosonic mode could serve as the pairing mediator. The team used atomic-level techniques to synthesize high-quality complex-oxide thin films, overcoming longstanding technical barriers.
Why It Matters
The observation provides concrete evidence that nickel-based superconductors may follow a distinct pairing mechanism, opening a new avenue for theoretical and materials-design work on high-temperature superconductors. By delivering the first direct view of both gap symmetry and bosonic coupling in this class, the study highlights China’s expanding role in frontier physics and the global effort to understand high-temperature superconductivity.
Official Statements & Responses
Xue Qikun called the results a pivotal advance in quantum-matter research, noting that the uniform gap challenges assumptions based on cuprates. He also said the findings illustrate China’s deepening role in frontier physics and its growing contribution to the worldwide effort to understand high-temperature superconductivity.
Verbatim Quotes
- “This is a key step in quantum matter research,” — Xue Qikun, Professor, SUSTech
- “It reflects China's deepening role in frontier physics and its growing contribution to the global effort to understand high-temperature superconductivity.” — Xue Qikun, Academician, Chinese Academy of Sciences
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
The sources present a consistent account of the experimental observations; no contradictory data or unresolved questions are reported within the available material.
