Scientists Refine Recipe for Topological Superconductors

Researchers discover a way to tune these exotic materials by adjusting the ratio of two key elements.

Published on Feb. 5, 2026

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Researchers at the University of Chicago and West Virginia University have found a way to engineer topological superconductors, a material with exotic properties that could enable next-generation quantum computers. By adjusting the ratio of tellurium and selenium in ultra-thin films of iron telluride selenide, the team was able to precisely control the quantum interactions between electrons, allowing them to tune the material into a highly desirable topological superconductor state.

Why it matters

Topological superconductors are a promising platform for building quantum devices because their unique quantum states are inherently stable and resistant to noise. This discovery provides a powerful new tool for designing the specialized materials that will be needed for future quantum computers to overcome the limitations of today's classical computers.

The details

The researchers adjusted the ratio of tellurium and selenium in the iron telluride selenide films, finding that this changes the correlations between the electrons in the material. By tuning these electron interactions to the right level, they were able to switch the material into a topological superconductor state, which has the properties needed for quantum computing applications.

  • The findings were published in Nature Communications in February 2026.

The players

Haoran Lin

A graduate student at the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering and first author of the new study.

Shuolong Yang

Assistant Professor of Molecular Engineering at the University of Chicago and senior author of the new work.

Subhasish Mandal

An assistant professor of physics at West Virginia University and an author on the new paper.

University of Chicago Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering

The institution where the lead researchers are based and where the work was conducted.

West Virginia University

The institution where one of the co-authors is based.

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What they’re saying

“We can tune this correlation effect like a dial. If the correlations are too strong, electrons get frozen in place. If they're too weak, the material loses its special topological properties. But at just the right level, you get a topological superconductor.”

— Haoran Lin, Graduate student, University of Chicago Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering (Mirage News)

“This opens up a new direction for quantum materials research. We've developed a powerful tool for designing the kind of materials that next-generation quantum computers will need.”

— Shuolong Yang, Assistant Professor of Molecular Engineering, University of Chicago (Mirage News)

“This is a unique material because it brings together all the essential ingredients one would hope for in a platform for topological superconductivity: superconductivity itself, strong spin–orbit coupling, and pronounced electronic correlations. This combination makes it an ideal system in which to explore how different quantum effects interact and compete.”

— Subhasish Mandal, Assistant Professor of Physics, West Virginia University (Mirage News)

What’s next

Multiple research groups are already collaborating with Yang's team to pattern the films and fabricate quantum devices. The scientists are also continuing to characterize other properties of the thin-film iron telluride selenide.

The takeaway

This discovery provides a powerful new tool for engineering the specialized quantum materials that will be needed to build the next generation of quantum computers, overcoming the limitations of today's classical computers.