[Science World] Room-Temperature Superconductor, Nobel Prize-Level if Successful

Global Attention on Technology Developed by Domestic Researchers
Opportunity for Recognition of Korean Science and Technology... Verification Comes Before Excitement

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Recently, it has become quite common among netizens to refer to Korea University as the ‘Superconductor University.’ This humorous expression stems from the successful development of a ‘superconductor’ with confirmed world-class research results, leading some to jokingly suggest that the university’s name might soon change. This reflects the skepticism many netizens have regarding the recently announced research findings. On the other hand, there are many who accept the research results without doubt. Numerous people openly express their joy, saying, “Finally, our country can win a Nobel Prize.” The stock market has also been significantly affected. On the 2nd, although the domestic stock market generally experienced a sharp decline, stocks classified under the superconductor theme surged collectively, with some even being designated as investment warning stocks. A stock market expert commented, “The market shows signs of turbulence similar to the recent frenzy over secondary battery-related stocks.”

What is it about superconductors that causes such a reaction? In any material, electrical resistance occurs as electricity flows. We use materials that conduct electricity well, such as copper, called ‘conductors,’ to make wires and the like. However, even these conductors have some resistance. This resistance becomes a major obstacle when manufacturing high-performance, high-output electronic devices. Scientists and engineers have racked their brains countless times to find ways to reduce electrical resistance even slightly. A superconductor is a material in which this electrical resistance becomes completely '0.'

There is a misconception among some people that this is the first time a superconductor has been developed. Superconductors have existed for a long time. Numerous inventions using superconductors have already been developed. A representative example is the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) equipment found in hospitals. They are also used in high-speed magnetic levitation trains.

The problem lies in the conditions. Until now, superconductors have only operated under special conditions of ultra-low temperatures below minus 243 degrees Celsius and ultra-high pressure. Therefore, liquid helium, which is colder than minus 243 degrees Celsius, must be used to achieve their full performance. In other words, the current situation requires the continuous use of expensive liquid helium to eliminate electrical resistance, which is an irrational burden. The high cost of MRI examinations is largely due to the expensive price of liquid helium. This has been a major obstacle to fully deploying superconductors across various industries because the cost is too high. If a superconductor that operates at room temperature, i.e., everyday temperatures, were developed, MRI prices would drop by several tens of times. But that’s not all. Fusion devices, which are attracting attention as future energy sources, are also being developed based on superconductors. This essentially means holding the key to solving future energy problems. Beyond that, the applications are truly limitless, including the development of ultra-high-performance computers.

So, what is the superconductor that the Korea University research team claims to have developed? More precisely, it is a material called ‘LK-99,’ developed by the ‘Quantum Energy Research Institute,’ a research team founded by Korea University alumni. On the 22nd of last month, this research team published a paper on the preprint site ‘arXiv’ about a material that exhibits superconductivity under ordinary temperature and atmospheric pressure conditions?that is, a superconductor. This paper attracted worldwide attention as researchers from various countries reviewed it and offered diverse opinions.

The superconducting phenomenon was first discovered in 1911. Dutch physicist Heike Kamerlingh Onnes discovered that the electrical resistance of mercury drastically decreases at minus 269 degrees Celsius, for which he received the Nobel Prize in Physics. Since then, scientists have all tried to solve the ‘ultra-low temperature’ problem, but no one has succeeded. It is not difficult to find people in the scientific community who claimed to have developed ‘room-temperature superconductors,’ but it is hard to find any credible ones. In 2020, Professor Ranga Dias from the University of Rochester in the United States published a paper in the world-renowned scientific journal ‘Nature’ claiming to have created a material exhibiting superconductivity at 15 degrees Celsius, but this was later revealed to be a fabricated paper. In other words, the topic of room-temperature superconductors has been a ‘long-standing bait’ in the scientific community for over 100 years. Given this, it is only natural that a domestic research team, especially one affiliated with one of Korea’s top universities like Korea University, would become the center of attention by announcing success in this research.

ArXiv is not an official academic journal that publishes peer-reviewed and verified papers; rather, it is a ‘preprint’ site where anyone can upload papers without verification. Uploading a paper there does not mean “our research is perfect,” but rather “we want our paper to be verified by scientists worldwide.” This was inevitably a step that would invite controversy.

What is the current evaluation of LK-99 in the global scientific community? The debate is still ongoing. There are assessments that it could indeed be a room-temperature superconductor, and others that, while the possibility is small, it is true that a unique new material has been developed. Additional verification is still underway. Since scientists worldwide are rushing to examine it, verification of LK-99 will likely be completed soon. The Korean Superconductor and Cryogenics Society also issued a statement on the 2nd, announcing plans to form a verification committee to confirm the substance’s reality.

Is LK-99 truly a room-temperature superconductor, or will it end up as a mere laughingstock, as history over the past century has shown? That depends on the verification by global experts. Personally, I hope this research achievement will be recognized and serve as an opportunity for Korean science and technology to gain global recognition. Until then, what we must do is wait calmly. It is far too early for the stock prices to be so volatile now.