Semiconducting transport in Pb$_{10-x}$Cu$_x$(PO$_4$)$_6$O sintered from Pb$_2$SO$_5$ and Cu$_3$P

Abstract: The very recent claim on the discovery of ambient-pressure room-temperature superconductivity in modified lead-apatite has immediately excited sensational attention in the entire society, which is fabricated by sintering lanarkite (Pb2SO5) and copper(I) phosphide (Cu$3$P). To verify this exciting claim, we have successfully synthesized Pb$_2$SO$_5$, Cu$_3$P, and finally the modified lead-apatite Pb${10-x}$Cu$x$(PO$_4$)$_6$O. Detailed electrical transport and magnetic properties of these compounds were systematically analyzed. It turns out that Pb$_2$SO$_5$ is a highly insulating diamagnet with a room-temperature resistivity of ~7.18x10$^9$ Ohm.cm and Cu$_3$P is a paramagnetic metal with a room-temperature resistivity of ~5.22x10$^{-4}$ Ohm.cm. In contrast to the claimed superconductivity, the resulting Pb${10-x}$Cu$x$(PO$_4$)$_6$O compound sintered from Pb$_2$SO$_5$ and Cu$_3$P exhibits semiconductor-like transport behavior with a large room-temperature resistivity of ~1.94x10$^4$ Ohm.cm although our compound shows greatly consistent x-ray diffraction spectrum with the previously reported structure data. In addition, when a pressed Pb${10-x}$Cu$x$(PO$_4$)$_6$O pellet is located on top of a commercial Nd$_2$Fe${14}$B magnet at room temperature, no repulsion could be felt and no magnetic levitation was observed either. These results imply that the claim of a room-temperature superconductor in modified lead-apatite may need more careful re-examination, especially for the electrical transport properties.