Material consideration: On the LK-99 ‘superconductor’ episode

Source: The post is based on the article “Material consideration: On the LK-99 ‘superconductor’ episode” published in The Hindu on 19^th August 2023.

Syllabus: GS 3 – Science and Technology

Relevance: confusions over a recent discovery – LK-99.

News: Recently, scientists found that the material called LK-99 is not a room-temperature and ambient-pressure superconductor.

What is LK-99?

LK-99 has been claimed by South Korean scientists as a superconductor at room temperature and atmospheric pressure. However, currently scientists have discarded their claims.

What are the reasons behind discarding LK-99 as a superconductor?

First, when superconductors get cold, they push away magnets, causing repulsion below their transition temperature. The South Korean video showed LK-99 partly repelling a magnet. However, independent researchers found that the material was an insulator whose impurities could be magnetized.

Second, the South Korean scientists saw less resistance in LK-99 around 104°C, which could mean it’s a superconductor. However, researchers found that this drop occurred due to the copper sulphide impurities present in the material.

Hence, as per the scientists, no formal confirmation aligns with the initial declaration that this material can conduct electricity without resistance in regular conditions.

Must Read: Beyond the hype: Independent verification is crucial on claims about material LK-99

What lies ahead?

The LK-99 case raises concerns over misunderstandings caused in the open science competition. However, this misunderstanding shouldn’t stop open collaboration.

Moreover, now, the burden lies on South Korean group to show evidence for their claim.