Vortex arrays and strong proximity coupling in Nb/Au bilayers
Owing to its superconducting properties, niobium (Nb) is an excellent candidate material for superconducting electronics and applications in quantum technology. Here, we perform scanning tunneling microscopy and spectroscopy experiments on Nb films covered by a thin gold (Au) film. We investigate the minigap structure of the proximitized region and provide evidence for a transparent interface between Nb and Au, beneficial for device applications. Imaging of Abrikosov vortices in the presence of a perpendicular magnetic field is reported. Our results show robust and homogeneous superconducting properties of thin Nb films in the presence of a gold capping layer. The Au film not only protects the Nb from surface oxidation but also preserves its excellent superconducting properties.
Authors
- Sergio Pezzini (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4289-907X)
- Stefano Veronesi (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2171-7081)
- Stefan Heun (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1989-5679)
- Camilla Coletti (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8134-7633)
- Antonio Rossi (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4574-7215)
- Masahiro Haze (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7274-2909)
- Ylea Vlamidis (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6965-1771)
- Letizia Ferbel (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9182-3728)
- Matteo Carrega (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1956-7715)
- Leonardo Sabattini (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0002-0526-6644)
- Wen Si (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0001-0754-9990)
- Wenbin Li (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3147-3893)
- Yukio Hasegawa (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6674-4745)
- Ivan Villani (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0003-2125-5838)
Institutions
- Scuola Normale Superiore (IT)
- Italian Institute of Technology (IT)
- Istituto Nanoscienze (IT)
- Superconducting and other Innovative Materials and Devices Institute (IT)
- National Enterprise for NanoScience and NanoTechnology (IT)
- Kavli Institute for the Physics and Mathematics of the Universe (JP)
- Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Sezione di Genova (IT)
- Center for Nanotechnology Innovation (IT)
- The University of Tokyo (JP)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Applied Physics Letters
- Published
- 2025-11-10
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0293500
- Primary Topic
- Surface and Thin Film Phenomena
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00