Germanium flips to superconducting state for the first time ever

Scientists have achieved superconductivity in germanium for the first time, marking a significant breakthrough with potential implications for quantum computing and energy-efficient electronics. A collaborative team from New York University, the University of Queensland, and other institutions succeeded in making germanium conduct electricity without resistance at 3.5 Kelvin (-453°F). This was accomplished by precisely doping germanium with gallium using molecular beam epitaxy, a technique that allows ultra-thin crystal layers to be grown with high atomic precision. This method maintained the crystal’s stability despite the high gallium concentration, enabling the superconducting state. Germanium, a widely used semiconductor in computer chips and fiber optics, has long been sought after for superconductivity due to its ideal electrical properties and stable diamond-like crystal structure. Achieving superconductivity in germanium opens new possibilities for scalable, foundry-ready quantum devices and could revolutionize technologies requiring seamless integration between semiconducting and superconducting materials, such as quantum circuits, sensors, and cryogenic electronics. The