The Ultimate Validation of Planar Weight Disparity:
Room Temperature Superconductivity Using Zinc

23 April 2017
Superconductors.ORG

        In 2005 it was found that atomic weight disparity on opposite sides of an oxygen atom will facilitate high temperature superconductivity. That revelation has since led to the discovery of no less than 140 new superconductors, 46 of which transition above room temperature. Now a 47th room temperature superconductor has been created using zinc - one of the most recalcitrant of elements.

        Superconductors.ORG herein reports that Ba12ZnO13 has produced a low-volume-fraction superconductivity signature around 32-33 Celsius. At page top are plots of two magnetization tests of this material showing Meissner transitions of 6-8 milligauss while warming through Tc. In the two plots below right diamagnetic transitions of around 3-6 milligauss also appeared during cooling tests. Straight lines have been drawn through the noise to approximate the average of the data points.



       Though the atomic structures of BaO and ZnO (shown at left) are completely different, when they are blended together oxygen gets sandwiched between disparate-weight metals, heterodyning lattice vibrations of different frequencies. This results in periodic compression of the oxygen site and a "virtual redox", facilitating superconductivity. When the planar weight ratio is very high - at least 23 to 1 - room temperature superconductivity can result.


             

       It is theorized that, when divalent metals of different atomic weights are positioned on opposite sides of an oxygen atom, periodic compression from lattice vibrations forces a momentary valency shift, causing a hole to appear at the oxygen site. That positively charged oxygen ion then acts as a mediator, encouraging electrons to pair up and produce a superconductive state, as shown in the below animation. The two red dots are paired electrons migrating as the region of positive charge moves. The reason the volume fraction (VF) is low in this RT superconductor is that, in the real world, parallel columns do not form identically. In one column the arrangement is 12 bariums then 1 zinc. But the column next to it might arrange as 8 bariums then 1 zinc then 4 bariums. This results in lattice vibrations being out-of-phase axially, suppressing superconductivity near that unit cell. In order to make a high VF room temperature superconductor, the structure must be homogeneous both chemically and structurally. This is why room temperature superconductors are not yet being mass produced. The level of homogeneity required is beyond current technology.


         



       Stoichiometric amounts of the below chemicals were used in the synthesis of this compound:

BaCO3   99.95%   (Alfa Aesar)   17.41 grains (decomposes to BaO during calcination, releasing the carbon as CO2)
ZnO   99.9%   (LW Ind. & Sci.)   0.60 grain

       The chemical precursors were pelletized at 60,000 PSI and calcined for one hour at 800C. Then sintering continued for 9 hours at 880C. Lastly, the pellet was annealed for 9+ hours at 500C in flowing O2. Testing temperatures were determined using an Omega type "T" thermocouple and precision OP77 DC amplifier. The magnetometer employed a Honeywell SS94A1F Hall-effect sensor with a sensitivity of 25 mv/Gauss.


RESEARCH NOTES: The blended oxides can be strongly hygroscopic. All tests should be performed immediately after annealing.

RE-PUBLICATION NOTICE: Elsevier Publishing, dba Elsevier Science, as well as Morris Communications, both print and broadcast divisions, are specifically prohibited from re-publishing any part of this news story.


E. Joe Eck
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