High-temperature superconductivity in Th-B-H systems via nonclathrate design
Phys. Rev. B 112, 054513 – Published 22 August, 2025
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/gnq4-b1gr
Abstract
Ternary hydrides have recently been predicted to exhibit exceptional superconducting properties under high pressure, positioning them as promising candidates for room-temperature superconductivity. In this work, we perform a systematic investigation of the Th-B-H system at 100 and 200 GPa using state-of-the-art structural prediction method combined with first-principles calculations. Our results identified seven thermodynamically stable compounds, namely ThBH, , , , , , and , in which B atoms are bonded with H atoms, giving rise to diverse structural motifs, including tetrahedra, () units, octahedra, an interpenetrating framework constructed from orthogonal zigzag chains and corrugated B-H layers. In addition to the existence of conventional atomic H, we uncover exotic hydrogen species, such as isolated planar pentagons and pyramidal units. Further electron-phonon coupling calculations reveal that nonclathrate hydride exhibits a of 72 K at 200 GPa, which increases to 102 K upon decompression to 120 GPa. Moreover, the further results show hole doping could enhance superconductivity, leading to an increased of 115 K in the isostructural . These findings provide valuable insights for the design and synthesis of ternary hydrides with high-temperature superconductivity, particularly in rare-earth metal hydrides under high pressure.