The First Room-Temperature Ambient-Pressure Superconductor

Understand

For the first time in the world, we succeeded in synthesizing the room-temperature superconductor ($T_c \ge 400$ K, 127$^\circ$C) working at ambient pressure with a modified lead-apatite (LK-99) structure.

• The superconductivity of LK-99 is proved with the Critical temperature ($T_c$), Zero-resistivity, Critical current ($I_c$), Critical magnetic field ($H_c$), and the Meissner effect.
• The superconductivity of LK-99 originates from minute structural distortion by a slight volume shrinkage (0.48 %), not by external factors such as temperature and pressure.
• The shrinkage is caused by Cu$^{2+}$ substitution of Pb$^{2+}$(2) ions in the insulating network of Pb(2)-phosphate and it generates the stress.