LK-99 isn’t a superconductor — how science sleuths solved the mystery (www.nature.com)
from tedu@azorius.net to tech@azorius.net on 16 Aug 2023 18:34
https://azorius.net/g/tech/p/jqyYpX91VM47Sw95WK-LK99-isnt-a-superconductor--how-science-sleuths-

Researchers seem to have solved the puzzle of LK-99. Scientific detective work has unearthed evidence that the material is not a superconductor, and clarified its actual properties.

The conclusion dashes hopes that LK-99 — a compound of copper, lead, phosphorus and oxygen — marked the discovery of the first superconductor that works at room temperature and ambient pressure. Instead, studies have shown that impurities in the material — in particular, copper sulfide — were responsible for the sharp drops in electrical resistivity and partial levitation over a magnet, which looked similar to properties exhibited by superconductors.

#tech