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.

非技术汇总超导性是一种材料在不损失能量的情况下进行电力的能力。据报道，只有少数具有高于室温超导性的材料，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，但再现这种结果是挑战。借助NSF材料研究部的固态和材料化学计划的支持，这项高风险/高回报渴望奖励，主要研究者旨在系统地研究PB-CU-P-SI-O-S-S相位空间，最近报道的超导材料起源于此。检查报告的合成程序并建立一项方案，以战略性地分析产品材料的所有阶段，以存在或不存在超导性，为如何研究如何调查超导性能的材料系统创造了一般的蓝图。首席研究人员参与了该项目的本科生，这使他们有机会参与近几个月成为头条新闻的尖端科学。如果发现上述室温超导体，它将通过在基础设施现代化中使用此类材料来实现经济利益，从1）高电力传输线，以利用在地理上偏远地区的可再生发电量，到2）强大的永久磁铁，这些磁铁将消除对频道中的大型，罕见的基于近距离的磁力的需求，以消除liquium the the Moilium the Molium sumpern fielum summiium summiim the Moachnn the Mrii commia commi。据报道，通过CU3P和PB2SO5之间的反应产生的铅粘液相位〜pb10-XCUX（PO4）6O，据报道暴露于室温超导性高于室温的超导性。虽然报告的合成方法是不寻常的，但它引发了讨论，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能的相。 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.隔离原始组成并确定超导相的结构是建立其可重复合成的起点。更笼统地，开发合成和表征超导阶段的战略方法可以支持产生超导性的预测理论。该奖项反映了NSF的法定任务，并通过使用基金会的知识分子优点和更广泛的影响评估标准来评估值得支持。