Japanese scientists discover that superconductivity can be enhanced by alcohol.

Following research on Fe-based oxide superconductors, researchers at NIMS in Japan are looking for new Fe-based materials. Focus has turned to FeTe, which has the same crystal structure as LaFeAsO, a superconducting oxide discovered in 2008. Yoshihiko Takano, Group Leader at the Nano Frontier Materials Group at the Superconducting Materials Center added 20% sulphur to the FeTe in order to eliminate antiferromagnetic ordering that is an obstacle to superconductivity. Early results were disappointing, but almost by chance they discovered that exposure to atmospheric air resulted in the material displaying superconducting properties. The surprising thing was that the superconducting transition temperature increases with exposure. In order to test whether the effect was due to oxygen and or water, they tried treating the material in different environments, including ethanol, which led to trying different types of alcoholic beverages; beer, red wine, white wine, sake.... It would seem that the nature of the alcoholic environment has an effect on the superconducting volume fraction of the material, although as yet, the exact ingredient and mechanism is still illusive. More work required.....cheers!