atheNew 'metal sandwich' may break superconductor record: "The new lithium monoboride (LiB) compound is a 'binary alloy' consisting of two layers of boron -- the 'bread' of the atomic sandwich -- with lithium metal 'filling' in between, the researchers said. Once the material is synthesized, it should be superconductive at a higher temperature than other superconductors in its class, according to their results.

The researchers reported their findings in the May 5 online edition of the journal Physical Review B, Rapid Communications.

'To the best of our knowledge, this alloy structure had not been considered before,' said Stefano Curtarolo, professor of mechanical engineering and materials sciences at Duke's Pratt School. 'We have been able to identify synthesis conditions under which the LiB compound should form. And we believe that if the material can be synthesized, it should superconduct at a higher temperature, perhaps more than 10 percent greater, than any other binary alloy superconductor.' "