Ok from what i understand, this paper is proposing that a very specific substitution of the Copper atom in the place of the lead atom in the lead apatite structure is responsible for this

This only happens at a very specific atomic site but it alters the structure of the material in a way that creates a "Flat Electronic Band" that is key to Supercon

But since it has to be at that very specific site at a very specific atomic proportion it could explain why people are having trouble replicating this material exactly

https://arxiv.org/abs/2307.16892

  • KobaCumTribute [she/her]
    ·
    11 months ago

    i think very likely the original authors got extremely lucky and achieve a successful sample in spite of their crude synthesis method

    It sounds like they've managed it through sheer volume more than luck. They allegedly made thousands of failed samples before getting the large chunk they showed off. Ostensibly they discovered the material over 20 years ago and have spent those decades trying to figure out how to replicate it at all and make better samples.

    The sample the Chinese lab made appears to be an incredibly tiny flake around the size of the head of a pin, if not smaller, so they may have been carving away at a failed sample until they found a tiny flake that seemed to be lk-99.