LK-99: The Quest for a Room-Temperature Superconductor | 07 Aug 2023
Why in News?
A group of South Korean scientists have recently claimed the discovery of a material they named LK-99. According to their reports, LK-99 is a superconductor at room temperature and pressure.
- This groundbreaking claim has piqued the interest of the scientific community and could potentially revolutionize the world of electrical conductivity and technology.
What does the Claim on Discovery of LK-99 Suggest?
- Exploring Apatite Materials: The South Korean group's discovery involved a rather unexpected material called apatite.
- Apatites are minerals with a phosphate scaffold in a tetrahedral or pyramidal motif(one phosphorus atom is surrounded by four oxygen atoms).
- The scientists started with lead apatite and substituted some of the lead atoms with copper, resulting in copper-substituted lead apatite, which they named LK-99.
- Evidence of Superconductivity: The group reported that at 10% copper substitution, LK-99 exhibited the characteristics of a superconductor.
- The material also maintained superconductivity in the presence of an external magnetic field, up to a certain critical threshold, a behavior consistent with known superconductors.
- The Implications of LK-99: If the claims of LK-99 being a room-temperature superconductor are confirmed, it could usher in a new era for electrical conductivity and technology.
- The widespread application of superconductors in everyday devices could lead to increased energy efficiency, reduced power losses, and the development of revolutionary technologies.
What are Superconductors?
- About:
- Superconductors are materials that exhibit zero electrical resistance when cooled to extremely low temperatures. This property allows them to conduct electricity with no loss of energy.
- Example: Lanthanum-Barium-Copper Oxide, Yttrium-Barium-Copper Oxide, Niobium-Tin etc.
- Superconductors are materials that exhibit zero electrical resistance when cooled to extremely low temperatures. This property allows them to conduct electricity with no loss of energy.
- Discovery:
- In 1911 Kamerlingh Onnes discovered that the electrical resistance of mercury completely disappeared at temperatures a few degrees above absolute zero.
- The phenomenon became known as superconductivity.
- In 1911 Kamerlingh Onnes discovered that the electrical resistance of mercury completely disappeared at temperatures a few degrees above absolute zero.
- Applications of Superconductors:
- Energy Transmission: Superconducting cables can transmit electricity without losses, making them ideal for long-distance power transmission.
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI): Superconducting magnets are used in MRI machines to create strong and stable magnetic fields, enabling detailed medical imaging.
- Particle Accelerators: Superconducting magnets are crucial components in particle accelerators like the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), allowing particles to reach high velocities.
- Electric Motors and Generators: Superconducting materials can enhance the efficiency and power density of electric motors and generators.
- Maglev Trains: Superconducting magnets enable magnetic levitation (maglev) trains to float above tracks, reducing friction and enabling high-speed travel.
- Quantum Computing: Some superconducting materials are being explored for their potential in quantum computing due to their ability to exhibit quantum states.