Chinese and Korean Teams Successfully Reproduce Meissner Effect in LK99-like Room Temperature Superconductors

Monday - March 4 2024, 03:23 UTC - 8 months ago

Chinese and Korean teams successfully reproduce Meissner effect in LK99-like superconductors, providing evidence of near room temperature superconductivity. The presence of one-dimensional voids in the material makes it more feasible for practical applications such as diamond wires. This marks a significant milestone in the pursuit of practical superconducting materials.

The race for creating room temperature and room pressure superconductors has been heating up in recent years, with researchers in China and South Korea leading the way. In a breakthrough announcement, the original South Korean team has reported successful reproduction of the weak magnetic effects indicative of the Meissner effect - a key characteristic of superconductors - at Monday's American Physical Society conference held on March 4, 2024 .

The Meissner effect is a fundamental property of superconductors that distinguishes them from ordinary conductors. It refers to the complete expulsion of magnetic fields from the interior of a superconducting material when it transitions from its normal state to the superconducting state. This behavior is the result of a remarkable phenomenon known as perfect diamagnetism, which allows for zero electrical resistance in superconductors .

The Chinese and South Korean teams have been pursuing LK-99-derived room temperature superconductors through different synthesis and analysis methods. The north China team, led by Hongyang Wang, utilized hydrothermal synthesis and SQUID measurement, while the south China team, led by Yao Yao, used solid state synthesis and EPR measurement. In a joint paper, the teams reproduced each other's results and provided clear evidence of superconductivity at near room temperature - specifically around 250 K .

One of the unique features of the apatite system, which the LK-99 material is derived from, is the presence of one-dimensional voids that act as linear dislocation type defects. It is believed that these voids are the key area where carriers accumulate and superconductivity occurs. The teams have eliminated the glass phase and other non-superconducting components, leaving only the one-dimensional void area which contributes to a small proportion of the overall weight of the material .

This makes it much more feasible for practical applications, such as diamond wires, which the teams aim to further pursue.This groundbreaking research paper not only provides definitive evidence of the Meissner effect in LK99-like room temperature and room pressure superconductors, but also marks a significant milestone in the search for practical superconducting materials that could revolutionize various industries and technologies .