Why in the News?

Korean researchers claim to have developed a superconductor that can operate at room temperature and ambient pressure.

What have the researchers developed?

• The researchers assert that they have created a superconductor named LK-99, which operates at room temperature and under ambient pressure.
• LK-99 is a combination of powdered compounds containing lead, oxygen, sulphur, and phosphorus.
• Upon heating at extremely high temperatures, it transforms into a dark grey solid.
• The potential significance of this discovery is immense, provided other laboratories can replicate these results.
• Nevertheless, some researchers remain skeptical as this study has not undergone peer review, and the results must be independently reproduced by other scientific groups.

What is a Superconductor?

• A superconductor is a material that exhibits superconductivity, a unique state of matter characterized by the absence of electrical resistance and the exclusion of magnetic fields.
• In a superconductor, an electric current can flow indefinitely without any hindrance.
• Superconductors have significant practical applications in our everyday lives.
• In 1933, Walther Meissner and Robert Ochsenfeld discovered that superconductors act as perfect diamagnets, repelling magnetic fields, a phenomenon known as the Meissner effect.
• This property makes them ideal for applications like magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
• However, achieving superconductivity typically requires extremely low temperatures.
• Currently, researchers are actively exploring and developing superconductors that can operate at room temperature, a groundbreaking advancement that would revolutionize various technologies and industries.

How will the room-temperature superconductors help?

• The use of room-temperature superconductors can offer significant benefits in various applications.
• Typically, the critical temperature of conventional superconductors is below 10 Kelvin (-263 degrees Celsius), whereas room temperature is around 20-22°C.
• By having superconductors that function at room temperature, the cost of electricity grids, computer chips, magnets for maglev trains, energy-storage devices, and fusion reactors can be reduced significantly.
• This is achieved through electricity and cost savings on coolants, as the need for extreme cooling methods is eliminated.
• The widespread adoption of room-temperature superconductors holds the potential to revolutionize multiple industries, making them more efficient and cost-effective.