Lately there has been a lot of talk on social media about LK-99, the perfect superconductor, which could revolutionize energy physics as we know it. What’s more, according to what some of the enthusiasts of this viral superconductor, could be the key we were waiting for to finally be able to obtain electricity through nuclear fusion in an efficient way. It certainly sounds great. However, most experts in the area are quite cautious with this finding that, for the moment, it has not been able to be replicated by other scientists.
They have not categorically ensured that it will not work. However, it is normal for them to show some caution. In science, it is essential that a scientific finding can be replicated, so that it can be shown that it did not happen by chance, or that it never really happened as such, but was the result of a miscalculation.
This viral superconductor has the advantage of being made of very easy and cheap materials to get, so there are many research groups that have gotten down to work to try to replicate the study. But no one has yet. For this reason, we will have to wait before launching the bells on the fly.
What is a superconductor?
Before discussing this viral superconductor, it’s important to remember what a superconductor is, in general.
It is a material that is capable of conducting electricity. no electrical resistance or power loss, under certain conditions. These conditions usually imply very low temperaturess. In fact, it is known as critical temperature to that under which a material goes from being a simple conductor to becoming a superconductor. Generally, the critical temperature is very cold. One of the best superconductors available today has a critical temperature of -135ºC, as explained to Science Media Center Leni Basconesdoctor in physics and researcher at the Institute of Material Sciences of Madrid.
It is true that there are some with which a somewhat higher critical temperature can be obtained, but that implies raise the pressure a lot.
Since very low temperatures or very high pressures are needed to make a superconductor, it is generally a very inefficient process, since energy is also needed to reach such extreme parameters. The ideal would be a superconductor that could work at ambient temperature and pressure. And that’s what LK-99 promises.
This viral superconductor has been developed in the South Korea Quantum Energy Research Center. From there, two studies were published in the preprint phase at the end of July. That is, works that have not yet been peer-reviewed and, therefore, have not received the go-ahead from independent researchers on the correct development of its procedures.
This is the first piece of information that is leading physicists and materials experts around the world to be wary of. But he’s not the only one.
More reasons for caution
There are two phenomena by which a material can be considered a superconductor. The first is something known as specific heat anomaly.
Specific heat is the amount of heat that must be applied to a unit mass of matter to raise its temperature by one unit. For example, the heat necessary to raise a kilogram of matter by 1ºC.
In metals that are not superconductors, this parameter follow a continuous function dependent on ambient temperature. That is, you can draw a graph of heat versus temperature without lifting your pencil from the paper. However, by the time it drops below the critical temperature and becomes superconducting, a discontinuity is generated. A jump in the graph.
Outside scientists who have looked at obtaining this viral superconductor have not found sufficient data to indicate the existence of this anomaly. Therefore, it is something that should be indicated in a more concrete way.
On the other hand, in superconductors something known as meissner effect. This occurs when the magnetic fluxbelow the critical temperature. It happens because superconductors push off the magnetic field, in something known as diamagnetism. But neither is it adequately indicated in the preprints that it has been reached.
Yes, it is true that a video is circulating on social networks in which a piece of LK-99 can be seen that levitates when placed on top of a magnet. This is usually a sign of diamagnetism. However, experts remember that there are materials such as graphite that are diamagnetic, but do not present zero resistance to electrical conduction. Therefore, this viral superconductor still has a lot to prove.
How is zero resistance measured?
Speaking to The Verge, Nadya Masoncondensed matter physicist at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, explains that the scale used in preprints to measure electrical resistance is confusing. So much so that it’s not clear if LK-99 is a very good conductor or a superconductor. It’s something very different and needs to be specified better.
What is copper used for?
This viral superconductor is a polycrystalline material composed of lead, oxygen and phosphorus, to which copper is also added. In the preprint it is specified that copper is used as doping material. That is, impurities are added to change its electrical properties and, thus, obtain that zero resistance.
However, at no time is it clear how copper obtains that zero resistance. Therefore, it is something that must also be clarified before accepting this viral superconductor.
If it finally proves to be so special, it would revolutionize areas like the use of magnetic resonance, quantum computing or obtaining electricity through nuclear fusion. In addition, much smaller electric generators could be obtained, further improving their efficiency. There are many advantages, but much remains to be demonstrated. Other researchers tried before and ended up retracting, finding flaws in their procedures. Will this be the same case? We’ll be alert.