Record-High Superconductivity in Niobium-Titanium Alloy

Abstract: Here we report the observation of extraordinary superconductivity in a pressurized commercial niobium-titanium alloy. We find that its zero-resistance superconductivity persists from ambient pressure to the pressure as high as 261.7 GPa, a record high pressure up to which a known superconducting state can continuously survives. Remarkably, at such an ultra-high pressure, although the ambient pressure volume is shrunk by 45% without structural phase transition, the superconducting transition temperature (TC) increases to ~19.1 K from ~9.6 K, and the critical magnetic field (HC2) at 1.8 K has been enhanced to 19 T from 15.4 T. These results set new records for both of the TC and the HC2 among all the known alloy superconductors composed of only transition metal elements. The remarkable high pressure superconducting properties observed in the NbTi alloy not only expand our knowledge on this important commercial superconductor but also are helpful for a better understanding on the superconducting mechanism.