Entertaining the Possibility of RT Superconductivity in LK-99

Abstract

An intuitive chemical perspective on the LK-99 material is outlined and supported by DFT calculations. A hidden flat Lead band that exhibits instability toward charge density wave formation is exposed. Electron transfer between Lead CDW/conduction bands and Cu${}_3$d${}^9$/Cu${}_3$d${}^{10}$ impurity states is suggested to embody the observed phenomenology reminiscent of room temperature superconductivity. The inter-system electronic instability is reflected in a chemical instability involving 2Pb${}_{10-x}$Cu${}_x$(PO${}_4$)${}_6$O => Pb${}_{20-2x}$Cu${}_{2x}$(PO${}_4$)${}_{12}$(O${}_2$). Implications for tuning posttreatments as well as handling of the LK-99 material emerge.

6 pages, 3 figures