Indications of superconductivities in blend of variant apatite and covellite

TL;DR

This study reports the synthesis of a new blend of variant apatite and covellite with indications of superconductivity at near-room and low temperatures, demonstrated by magnetic and electric measurements showing diamagnetism and zero-resistance effects.

Contribution

It introduces a novel sulfur-doped apatite and covellite blend exhibiting dual superconducting phases with distinct critical temperatures.

Findings

Diamagnetism observed around 260 K indicating superconductivity.

Zero-resistance effect detected at temperatures below 140 K.

Large upper critical magnetic field exceeding 1000 Oe at 250 K.

Abstract

Through heavily doping sulfur into an apatite framework, we synthesize a new blend mainly comprising variant apatite and covellite (copper sulfide). Magnetic measurement exhibits that significant diamagnetism appears at around 260 K and drops dramatically below 30 K implying coexistence of two superconducting phases. The upper critical magnetic field is larger than 1000 Oe at 250 K. Electric measurement manifests that the current-voltage curves deviate from the normal linear lineshape suggesting the presence of zero-resistance effect, and the critical current is around 50 $\mu$A at 140 K. These exotic magnetic and electric features strongly indicate these two components, variant apatite and covellite, individually trigger two superconducting phases at near-room and low temperatures.