Exploring Room-Temperature Superconductivity in Pb10-xCux(PO4)6O

Friday - August 4 2023, 04:16 UTC - 1 year ago

Southeast University of Nangjing China have recently reported room-temperature superconductivity in the compound Pb10-xCux(PO4)6O using solid-phase synthesis. Zero resistance, which is important evidence for superconductivity, was observed above 100°K under ambient pressure in their experiment, indicating that this compound is a possible candidate for searching high-temperature superconductors. However, more evidence is needed to confirm the superconductivity and to determine which components are in charge for the zero resistance.

Southeast University of Nangjing China have published their preprint to follow their video. They claim to measure ‘zero resistance’ which is to say, they measure a resistance as small as possible giving the limitations of their measurement setup. It is difficult to setup a measurement of the sample due to its flaky material properties. The discontinuities in resistance at higher temperatures may be due to electrode contact resistance.

They measure a sample with a very high critical field. Higher and higher magnetic temperatures do not seem to affect the temperature at which it enters its lowest-conductive state. They report this as ‘critical temperature’. Superconductors usually have a sudden drop in resistance but this material has a smooth decline in resistance as it cools. This part of the paper indicates that they think making larger and more pure samples could show the Meissner effect.

Room-temperature superconductivity has always been regarded as the ultimate goal in the fields of solid-state physics and materials science, with its realization holding revolutionary significance, capable of triggering significant changes in energy transmission and storage. However, achieving it poses various challenges. Recent research revealed that material Pb10−xCux(PO4)6O displays room-temperature superconductivity under atmospheric pressure, sparking global interest in further exploration. Here, we utilized solid-phase synthesis to obtain a polycrystalline sample of Pb10−xCux(PO4)6O. X-ray diffraction confirmed its structural consistency with referenced literature. Zero resistance, which is important evidence for superconductivity, was observed above 100°K under ambient pressure in our experiment. Our finding indicates that Pb10−xCux(PO4)6O is a possible candidate for searching high-temperature superconductors.

Conclusion from the Paper: They successfully synthesized the compound Pb10-xCux(PO4)6O, and observed the zero resistance above 100 K. However, the Meissner effect has not been observed yet in our samples, which suggests that the superconducting volume is relatively low. they still need more evidences to confirm the superconductivity, and to identify which component is in charge of the zero resistance (superconductivity). Besides, whether the Tc could be enhanced up to room temperature is still an open question.