EAGER: Exploration of Apatite Room Temperature Superconductor Phase Space

非技术概述超导是一种材料导电而不损失能量的能力。只有几种材料具有高于室温的超导电性，最近一次是在2023年夏天。虽然高于室温的超导电性是一个令人兴奋的前景，但重现这样的结果是具有挑战性的。在美国国家科学基金会材料研究部固态和材料化学项目的支持下，这位首席研究员获得了这个高风险/高回报的热切奖项，旨在系统地研究铅-铜-磷-硅-O-S相空间，最近报道的超导材料就是从这个相空间产生的。审查已报道的合成过程，并建立一项协议，根据超导的存在与否对产品材料的所有相进行战略性分析，为如何研究材料系统的超导性能创造了一个总体蓝图。首席研究员让本科生参与这个项目，这让他们有机会参与近几个月来登上头条的尖端科学。如果发现一种高于室温的超导体，它将使这种材料在基础设施现代化中获得经济效益，从1)高功率传输线利用地理上偏远地区的可再生能源，到2)强大的永久磁体，它将消除风力涡轮机中对大型稀土基磁体的需求，以及3)在核磁共振机器中消除对液氦冷却的需要。技术综述据报道，通过Cu3P和Pb2SO5反应产生的一种改性的铅-磷灰石相~Pb10-xCux(PO4)6O具有高于室温的超导电性。虽然报道的合成方法不同寻常，但它引发了人们的讨论，即在复杂的元素相空间铅-铜-P-硅-氧-硫中是否可以找到具有室温超导性质的相。在美国国家科学基金会材料研究部固态和材料化学计划的支持下，首席研究员获得了这个高风险/高回报的热切奖项，研究了这个掺铜铅磷灰石系统，在这个系统中，除了铜占据了一些铅位置外，还需要考虑S占据通道中的氧位置，以及一些硅可能已经取代了PO4基团中的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。更广泛地说，开发一种战略方法来合成和表征超导相可以支持超导预测理论的创建。这一奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势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.