Scientists from South Korea have reportedly created a superconducting material that works at room temperature, although these findings have not yet been confirmed in independent experiments. Superconductivity, which is the absence of electrical resistance at extremely low temperatures, is a quantum-mechanical effect. It occurs when the crystal lattice ions have decreased fluctuations and the dissipation of electrons decreases, resulting in a sharp drop in resistance. Once a critical level is reached, the resistance turns to zero.
One characteristic property of superconductors is their ability to levitate due to the repulsion of the magnetic field of the conductor from an external permanent magnetic field.
As reported in the journal Nature, Dr. Lee and his group from the Institute of Advanced Materials in Seoul synthesized a material called LK-99 using lead, oxygen, sulfur, and phosphorus. Dr. Lee has been studying superconductivity for a long time and his work has built upon research that dates back to 1911. One of his most notable contributions was the discovery of high-temperature cuprates in 1986.
The LK-99 material works based on a quantum effect in which electrons form Cooper pairs and move without energy losses. However, the exact mechanism of this effect at warmer conditions is still not fully understood.
It is worth noting that there have been seven unsuccessful attempts to replicate the experiment, so caution is advised in interpreting these results.
If confirmed, this breakthrough could have significant applications in energy, transport, and medicine. For example, Japanese engineers are currently developing high-speed magnetic levitation trains, and this technology could also improve the quality of MRI images and reduce the size of the equipment.
We can expect the results of new experiments on the LK-99 material to be published in the near future, which will determine whether this study will be a major breakthrough or another disappointment.