Exciton-mediated room-temperature superconductivity

Superconductivity is the ability of an electronic material to conduct electrical current without resistance. This property lies at the heart of many existing and proposed technological applications, ranging from medical imaging to low-energy electronics and quantum computing. The biggest challenge for the technological applications remains the very low temperature or extreme pressure that the superconducting materials need to function. In this this project, we aim to demonstrate a highly unconventional route towards superconductivity in ambient conditions by exploiting collective properties of excitons (electron-hole pairs in a semiconductor) coupled to photons. Room-temperature superconductivity has been a long-sought goal of several generations of scientists and engineers. Achieving the project's goals will therefore place Australia at the cutting edge of developments in this highly technologically relevant area.