Communications of the ACM
LK-99 Confirmed Not To Be A Room-Temperature Superconductor
While the development is certainly disappointing, materials science continues to make breakthroughs in superconductivity.
Credit: Rokas Tenys/Shutterstock.com
The dream appears to be over. After a few intense weeks of speculation and drama, more and more labs have been able to recreate LK-99, also known as modified lead-apatite. The material was touted as the first-ever room-temperature ambient pressure superconductor, a claim that was met with healthy skepticism and excitement. After all, extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence.
Unfortunately, the evidence has failed to materialize. Labs have reproduced the material following the original paper's instructions and, in newly uploaded papers, they have not found any evidence of superconductivity. Actually, quite the opposite.
Superconductivity begins at a critical temperature below which the material can transmit electricity with no resistance. According to some of the new data, the resistivity of LK-99 increases as you lower the temperature, like some sort of anti-superconductor.
From IFLScience
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