EAGER: Exploration of Apatite Room Temperature Superconductor Phase Space

非技术概述超导性是一种材料在没有能量损失的情况下导电的能力。只有少数具有室温以上超导性的材料被报道，最近一次是在2023年夏天。虽然室温以上的超导性是一个令人兴奋的前景，复制这样的结果是具有挑战性的。凭借这个高风险/高回报的EAGER奖，由NSF材料研究部的固态和材料化学计划支持，首席研究员旨在系统地研究Pb-Cu-P-Si-O-S相空间，最近报道的超导材料起源于此。检查报告的合成过程，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，为如何研究超导性能的材料系统创建了一个通用的蓝图。首席研究员让本科生参与该项目，这使他们有机会参与最近几个月成为头条新闻的前沿科学。如果发现高于室温的超导体，它将通过在基础设施现代化中使用这些材料来实现经济效益，从1）高功率传输线路，以利用地理偏远地区的可再生能源发电，到2）强大的永磁体，这将消除风力涡轮机中对大型稀土基磁体的需求，技术概述已经报道了通过Cu 3 P和Pb 2 SO 5之间的反应产生的改性的铅-磷灰石相~ Pb 10-xCux（PO 4）6 O表现出高于室温的超导性。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的元素相空间Pb-Cu-P-Si-O-S中找到具有室温超导性质的相的讨论。有了这个高风险/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位点外，有必要考虑S占据沟道中的氧位置以及一些Si可能取代P的可能性。PO 4基团。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，发展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。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并已被认为是值得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的支持。

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.