EAGER: Exploration of Apatite Room Temperature Superconductor Phase Space

EAGER：磷灰石室温超导体相空间的探索

• 批准号: 2401995
• 负责人: Hans-Conrad zur Loye
• 金额: $ 30万
• 依托单位: University of South Carolina at Columbia
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2023
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2023-12-01 至 2025-11-30
• 项目状态: 未结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2401995&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: EAGER; Exploration; Apatite; Room; Temperature

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.

非技术摘要超导性是材料在不损失能量的情况下导电的能力。只有少数具有高于室温超导性的材料被报道，最近一次是在 2023 年夏天。虽然高于室温超导性是一个令人兴奋的前景，但重现这样的结果具有挑战性。凭借这项高风险/高回报的 EAGER 奖，在 NSF 材料研究部固态和材料化学项目的支持下，首席研究员的目标是系统地研究 Pb-Cu-P-Si-O-S 相空间，最近报道的超导材料就源自该相空间。检查报告的合成程序并建立一个协议，以战略性地分析产品材料的所有阶段是否存在超导性，为如何研究材料系统的超导特性创建一个总体蓝图。首席研究员让本科生参与该项目，这使他们有机会参与近几个月成为头条新闻的尖端科学。如果找到高于室温的超导体，则可以通过在基础设施现代化中使用此类材料来实现经济效益，从1​​）高输电线路以利用地理偏远地区的可再生能源发电，到2）强永磁体将消除风力涡轮机中对大型稀土磁体的需求，以及3）消除MRI机器中对液氦冷却的需要。技术摘要A修改 据报道，铅磷灰石相〜Pb10-xCux(PO4)6O是通过Cu3P和Pb2SO5之间的反应产生的，具有高于室温的超导性。虽然报道的合成方法很不寻常，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特性的相的讨论。在 NSF 材料研究部固态和材料化学项目的支持下，这项高风险/高回报的 EAGER 奖的主要研究者研究了这种铜掺杂的铅磷灰石系统，其中除了铜占据一些 Pb 位点之外，还必须考虑 S 占据通道中的氧位点，以及一些 Si 可能取代 PO4 基团中 P 的可能性。分离原始成分并确定超导相的结构是建立其可重复合成的起点。更一般地说，开发综合和表征超导相的战略方法可以支持超导预测理论的创建。该奖项反映了 NSF 的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。