Superconductors, materials that conduct electricity without resistance, are mostly inorganic materials. Organic superconductors are materials with high carbon content. Organic materials have been found that will superconduct when doped with metal atoms. Examples are fullerenes doped with Alkali metals which superconduct at 38 degrees Kelvin. Picene, (C22H14), an organic material, was discovered in 2010 to superconduct at 18 degrees Kelvin when doped with potassium. A new organic superconductor was made in 2011 by doping phenanthrene (C10H8) with 3 atoms of potassium. The world of organic superconductors, long ignored by the discoveries of high temperature superconductors is beginning to blossom again.
- Analytical balance
- Weighing boats
- Potassium
- Phenanthrene
- Picene( C22H11)
- Quartz tubes
- Tube sealing machine
- Glove box
- Oven
- Protective gloves and glasses
- Dewar for Liquid helium
- Small disk magnet
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Instructions
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1
Weigh out three moles of potassium (K), in a small porcelain boat. Weigh out one mole of phenanthrene (P). Cut the K in small pieces and mix with P in a glove box inside a quartz tube.
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2
Seal the tube under pressure of 10 to the minus 4 pascal (very low pressure).
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3
Heat the tube in an oven up to 200 degrees Celsius for 40 minutes. Keep the temperature constant for another 24 hours of heating.
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4
Cool the tube slowly to room temperature. With the black powder inside, plunge the tube into liquid helium. Hold a small magnet over the powder. The small magnet will float if the black powder is superconducting.
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5
Repeat the processes -- Steps 1 through 4 -- but now use picene instead of phenanthrene. For picene, raise the temperature to 440 degrees Celsius.