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Stable superconducting niobium ultrathin films

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  30 August 2011

Cécile Delacour ,
Luc Ortega ,
Bernard Pannetier  and
Vincent Bouchiat
Cécile Delacour
Affiliation:
Institut Néel, CNRS-Université Joseph Fourier-Grenoble INP, BP 166, F-38042 Grenoble, France.
Luc Ortega
Affiliation:
Institut Néel, CNRS-Université Joseph Fourier-Grenoble INP, BP 166, F-38042 Grenoble, France.
Bernard Pannetier
Affiliation:
Institut Néel, CNRS-Université Joseph Fourier-Grenoble INP, BP 166, F-38042 Grenoble, France.
Vincent Bouchiat
Affiliation:
Institut Néel, CNRS-Université Joseph Fourier-Grenoble INP, BP 166, F-38042 Grenoble, France.
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Abstract

We report on a combined structural and electronic analysis of niobium ultrathin films (from 2.5 to 10 nm) epitaxially grown in ultra-high vacuum on atomically flat sapphire wafers. We demonstrate a structural transition in the early stages of Nb growth, which coincides with the onset of a superconducting-metallic transition (SMT). The SMT takes place on a very narrow thickness range (1 ML). The thinnest superconducting sample (3 nm/ 9ML) has an offset critical temperature above 4.2K and allows to be processed by standard nanofabrication techniques to generate air and time stable superconducting nanostructures.

Keywords

superconductingNbelectrical properties
Type
Research Article
Information
MRS Online Proceedings Library (OPL) , Volume 1344: Symposium Y – Functional Two-Dimensional Layered Materials—From Graphene to Topological Insulators , 2011 , mrss11-1344-y12-05
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2011

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References

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