The claim of room-temperature, ambient pressure superconductivity in a copper-doped modified lead apatite compound called LK-99 stirred intense social media frenzy and scientific debate for nearly two months. What caused the steep rise and fall of LK-99? I will give a personal account of this puzzle and its resolution. Ultimately, LK-99 is less a story about superconductivity and more about another "super" property in masquerade. The purported signatures of superconductivity of LK-99 can be explained by superionicity coupled with holes produced by self-doping.
College of Liberal Arts & Sciences
2090 Lincoln Hall
702 S. Wright St., MC-448
Urbana, IL 61801
For Students: (217) 333-1705
Administration: (217) 333-1350