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Buckyballs Allow High-Temperature Superconduction
dr. loser writes: "Bell Labs researchers have announced the discovery of high temperature superconductivity in a crystal composed of C60 (buckyballs) and
other molecules (e.g. chloroform) used as spacers. These samples are field-effect transistor style devices. The superconducting transition is seen at 117 K. This is a big deal because this is the first non-copper-oxide compound to superconduct above 77 K, the boiling point of liquid nitrogen. This means there's probably more than one mechanism that can cause high temperature superconductivity, raising hopes for eventual room temperature superconductivity."
First of all, the article made no mention of thermal conductivity. This is vital to superconductors in that high thermal conductivity allows it to be cooled easier (heat flows into and out of it at a faster rate).
Also, how easy are these to shape? It would seem to me that eventually they would be able to form this kind of thing into any shape mold that they wanted, being as the constituant parts are very very small, and pretty much independent until they are set as a crystal.
Also, how well made were these crystals? If they were better crystalized, might the transition temperature go up even more?
I know it's a lot to expect from Yahoo news, but I really want to know!