The Announcement: A Milestone for Chinese Superconductivity Research
On March 3, 2026, the scientific community celebrated a major achievement as Jin Changqing, a research professor at the Institute of Physics (IOP) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), was named the sole recipient of the 2026 Bernd T. Matthias Prize for Superconducting Materials. This prestigious award, established in 1989 and presented every three years, honors groundbreaking contributions to the discovery and exploration of superconducting materials. Jin's recognition underscores his pioneering series of discoveries in novel superconductors, particularly those achieved through innovative high-pressure synthesis techniques.
The Bernd T. Matthias Prize stands as the highest international accolade in the field, previously awarded to luminaries like Mikhail Eremets in 2022 for hydride superconductors and Katsuya Shimizu in 2018 for high-pressure work. Jin's win highlights China's growing dominance in superconductivity, a field pivotal for quantum computing, magnetic levitation trains, and efficient power transmission.
Jin Changqing's Journey: From Student to Superconductivity Pioneer
Jin Changqing's career exemplifies dedication to extreme-condition materials science. Educated at leading Chinese institutions, he joined IOP CAS, where he leads the Emergent Materials & Phenomena at Synergetic Extreme Conditions team. His expertise lies in integrating high pressure with low temperatures or high magnetic fields to probe material properties unattainable under ambient conditions.
Over decades, Jin has published extensively in top journals like Nature Communications and Physical Review Letters. His work bridges theory and experiment, using diamond anvil cells (DACs) to achieve pressures exceeding 100 GPa—millions of times Earth's atmosphere—to stabilize metastable phases with extraordinary properties. This approach has yielded multiple record-breaking superconductors, positioning him as a global leader.
- Key career milestones: Discovery of first itinerant-electron topological superconductor in 2014 (CrAs).
- Leadership in CAS's high-pressure facilities, advancing synergetic techniques.
- Mentor to young researchers, fostering China's next generation in condensed matter physics.
For aspiring physicists, Jin's path offers inspiration: explore interdisciplinary tools like high-pressure physics for breakthroughs. Opportunities abound in research jobs at institutions like CAS.
Breakthroughs in Superhydride Superconductors: Pushing Tc Beyond 200 K
Jin's most celebrated achievements center on superhydrides—hydrogen-rich compounds promising room-temperature superconductivity. In 2022, his team reported superconductivity above 210 K (-63°C) in calcium superhydrides (CaH6-like phases) synthesized at high pressures and temperatures. This marked the highest Tc for alkaline earth hydrides, confirmed via in-situ resistance measurements under magnetic fields.
Building on this, they discovered:
- Zirconium polyhydrides with Tc ~70 K, a record for 4d transition metal hydrides.
67 - Antimony polyhydrides reaching Tc=116 K.
72 - La-Ca-H10 variants with enhanced stability and Tc.
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High-Pressure Synthesis: Unlocking Exotic Superconductors Step-by-Step
High-pressure synthesis (HPS) is Jin's signature method. Unlike ambient synthesis, HPS uses DACs to compress samples between diamond tips while heating via lasers.
- Load precursor (e.g., Ca + H2) into DAC chamber with pressure medium.
- Ramp pressure to 100-300 GPa and temperature to 1000-2000 K.
- Quench to stabilize high-pressure phase; measure properties in-situ.
- Characterize via X-ray diffraction, electrical transport, magnetism.
This process stabilizes polyhydrides unstable at ambient conditions. Jin's innovations in synergetic extremes (pressure + field/low T) enable precise Tc mapping, revealing dome-shaped phase diagrams.
In elemental superconductors like titanium (Tc>20 K up to 310 GPa), HPS revealed surprising wide-range SC, rewriting elemental limits.
Beyond Hydrides: Iron-Based, Cuprates, and Topological Superconductors
Jin's portfolio spans diverse families:
- Iron-based: CrAs superconductivity near antiferromagnetism (first in 2014).
18 - Cuprates: Sr2CuO3.3 (95 K Tc) local structure via XAFS.
- Topological: Itinerant-electron SC in compounds like ThCr2Si2 family.
These works elucidate unconventional mechanisms, blending conventional electron-phonon with exotic pairings.
Global Impact: Revolutionizing Quantum Technologies and Energy
Jin's discoveries accelerate practical superconductors. High-Tc materials promise lossless power grids (saving 10-20% global energy), MRI without cryogens, and quantum bits stable at higher temperatures. Superhydrides inform ambient-pressure quests, like LK-99 controversies.
Stakeholders praise: IOP CAS notes his role in China's roadmap for REBCO tapes (high-Tc wires).
Challenges remain: scalability from GPa labs to applications. Solutions: hybrid synthesis, computational prediction.
Explore IOP CAS researchChina's Superconductivity Surge: CAS at the Forefront
CAS drives China's push: recent 96 K SC without high P, nickel-based bulk high-Tc, high-entropy alloys.
For universities/colleges: Programs in condensed matter physics thrive at Tsinghua, Peking U. China higher ed jobs in research proliferate.
Future Horizons: Toward Room-Temperature Superconductors
Jin's hydrides (Tc~250 K at megabar P) edge near room temp. Outlook: Clathrate hydrides, pressure-quench stability, AI-design. Implications: Maglev networks, fusion reactors, quantum internet.
Actionable: Students pursue PhDs in high-P physics; explore academic CV tips.
Photo by Thomas Despeyroux on Unsplash
Career Opportunities in Superconductivity Research
Jin's success spotlights demand for experts. CAS, universities seek postdocs, faculty in materials science. Postdoc positions, research roles abound. Rate professors via Rate My Professor. Check higher ed jobs for China openings.