EAGER: Exploration of Apatite Room Temperature Superconductor Phase Space

超导性是一种材料在不损失能量的情况下导电的能力。只有少数材料具有高于室温的超导性，最近一次是在2023年夏天报道的。虽然室温以上的超导性是一个令人兴奋的前景，但再现这样的结果是具有挑战性的。这项高风险/高回报的EAGER奖由NSF材料研究部的固态和材料化学项目支持，首席研究员旨在系统地研究Pb-Cu-P-Si-O-S相空间，这是最近报道的超导材料的起源。检查报告的合成过程，并建立一个协议，从存在或不存在超导性的角度战略性地分析产品材料的所有阶段，为如何研究超导性能的材料系统创建了一个总体蓝图。首席研究员让本科生参与这个项目，这让他们有机会参与最近几个月成为头条新闻的前沿科学。如果找到室温以上的超导体，它将通过在基础设施现代化中使用这种材料来实现经济效益，从1)高功率传输线到利用地理偏远地区的可再生能源发电，到2)强大的永久磁铁，这将消除风力涡轮机对大型稀土基磁铁的需求，以及3)消除核磁共振成像仪对液氦冷却的需求。技术综述：经Cu3P与Pb2SO5反应制备的改性铅-磷灰石相~Pb10-xCux(PO4) 60具有室温以上超导性。虽然报道的合成方法是不寻常的，但它引发了关于是否可以在复杂元素相空间Pb-Cu-P-Si-O-S中找到具有室温超导性能的相的讨论。这个高风险/高回报的EAGER奖由NSF材料研究部固态和材料化学项目支持，首席研究员研究了这个铜掺杂铅磷灰石体系，其中，除了铜占据一些Pb位点外，还需要考虑S占据通道中的氧位点以及一些Si可能取代PO4基团中的P的可能性。分离超导相的原始成分和确定超导相的结构是建立其可重复性合成的起点。更一般地说，合成和表征超导相的战略方法的发展可以支持超导预测理论的建立。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

Non-Technical SummarySuperconductivity is a material’s ability to conduct electricity without energy loss. Only a few materials with above room temperature superconductivity have been reported, most recently in the summer of 2023. While above room temperature superconductivity is an exciting prospect, reproducing such results is challenging. With this high-risk/high-reward EAGER award, supported by the Solid State and Materials Chemistry program in NSF’s Division of Materials Research, the principal investigator aims to systematically study the Pb-Cu-P-Si-O-S phase space, from which the most recently reported superconducting material originated. Examining the reported synthesis procedure and establishing a protocol to strategically analyze all phases of the product materials in terms of presence or absence of superconductivity creates a general blueprint for how to investigate materials systems for superconducting properties. The principal investigator engages undergraduate students in the project, which gives them the opportunity to participate in cutting-edge science that has made headlines in recent months. If an above room temperature superconductor is found, it would enable economic benefits by using such materials in the infrastructure modernization, from 1) high power transmission lines to take advantage of renewable power generation in geographically remote regions, to 2) strong permanent magnets that would remove the need for large, rare-earth-based magnets in wind turbines, and to 3) to eliminating the need for liquid helium cooling in MRI machines.Technical SummaryA modified lead-apatite phase, ~Pb10-xCux(PO4)6O, created via the reaction between Cu3P and Pb2SO5, has been reported to exhibit above room temperature superconductivity. While the reported synthetic approach is unusual, it has sparked discussions whether phases with room temperature superconducting properties can be found within the complex elemental phase space, Pb-Cu-P-Si-O-S. With this high-risk/high-reward EAGER award, supported by the Solid State and Materials Chemistry program in NSF’s Division of Materials Research, the principal investigator studies this copper doped lead apatite system, where, in addition to the copper occupying some of the Pb sites, it is necessary to consider both S occupying the oxygen site in the channels as well as the potential that some Si might have substituted for P in the PO4 groups. Isolating the original composition and determining the structure of the superconducting phase is a starting point to establish its reproducible synthesis. More generally, the development of a strategic approach to synthesize and characterize superconducting phases can support the creation of a predictive theory of superconductivity.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.