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A special issue of Nanomaterials (ISSN 2079-4991).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (19 March 2021) | Viewed by 47349

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Dr. Evgueni F. Talantsev

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Guest Editor

1. M.N. Miheev Institute of Metal Physics, Ural Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, 18, S. Kovalevskoy St., 620108 Ekaterinburg, Russia
2. NANOTECH Centre, Ural Federal University, 19 Mira St., 620002 Ekaterinburg, Russia
Interests: fundamentals of conventional and unconventional superconductivity; hydrogen-rich superconductors; 2D intrinsic and proximity-induced superconductivity; nanoscaled ferroelectric materials; shock-wave phsyics and applications; practical iron-based and cuprate superconductors

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Within the last five years, experimental discoveries of intrinsic superconductivity in high-entropy alloys, highly-compressed hydrides, quasicrystals, approximant crystals, few layer stanene, and magic-angle twisted Dirac-cone materials have heralded a new era in this nearly 110-year-old field of science and technology. All these discoveries are associated with newly created/developed nanomaterials. This Special Issue aims to cover the latest aspects of these discoveries encompassing their fundamental understanding, basic properties, synthesis and fabrication routes, device methods, first-principles calculations, and other related topics. The format of welcomed articles includes full papers, communications, and reviews. Potential topics include but are not limited to:

First-principles exploration of hydrogen-rich superconductors;
Experimental discoveries in highly-compressed hydrides;
Superconductivity in magic-angles twisted 2D nanosheets;
Experimental and theoretical studies of high-entropy alloys superconductors;
Theory and experiment in superconducting quasicrystals and approximant crystals;
Enhanced superconductivity in 2D and 1D limits;
Hybrids nanoscaled ferroelectric/superconducting nanoscaled systems.

Accepted papers are published in the joint Special Issue in Nanomaterials or Nanomanufacturing (https://www.mdpi.com/journal/nanomanufacturing/special_issues/superconductivity_nano).

Dr. Evgueni F. Talantsev
Guest Editor

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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Nanomaterials is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

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Keywords

Magic-angle twisted 2D nanosheets
Hydrogen-rich superconductors
High-entropy alloys
Superconductivity in quasicrystals and approximant crystals
Enhanced superconductivity in 2D and 1D limits
Proximity-induced superconductivity in nanoscaled systems

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Published Papers (12 papers)

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Research

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10 pages, 508 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Finite-Frequency Dissipation in Two-Dimensional Superconductors with Disorder at the Nanoscale

by Giulia Venditti, Ilaria Maccari, Marco Grilli and Sergio Caprara

Nanomaterials 2021, 11(8), 1888; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano11081888 - 23 Jul 2021

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2362

Abstract

Two-dimensional superconductors with disorder at the nanoscale can host a variety of intriguing phenomena. The superconducting transition is marked by a broad percolative transition with a long tail of the resistivity as function of the temperature. The fragile filamentary superconducting clusters, forming at low temperature, can be strengthened further by proximity effect with the surrounding metallic background, leading to an enhancement of the superfluid stiffness well below the percolative transition. Finite-frequency dissipation effects, e.g., related to the appearance of thermally excited vortices, can also significantly contribute to the resulting physics. Here, we propose a random impedance model to investigate the role of dissipation effects in the formation and strengthening of fragile superconducting clusters, discussing the solution within the effective medium theory. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Superconductivity in Nanoscaled Systems)

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15 pages, 2050 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Quantifying the Charge Carrier Interaction in Metallic Twisted Bilayer Graphene Superlattices

by Evgueni F. Talantsev

Nanomaterials 2021, 11(5), 1306; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano11051306 - 15 May 2021

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2780

Abstract

The mechanism of charge carrier interaction in twisted bilayer graphene (TBG) remains an unresolved problem, where some researchers proposed the dominance of the electron–phonon interaction, while the others showed evidence for electron–electron or electron–magnon interactions. Here we propose to resolve this problem by generalizing the Bloch–Grüneisen equation and using it for the analysis of the temperature dependent resistivity in TBG. It is a well-established theoretical result that the Bloch–Grüneisen equation power-law exponent, p, exhibits exact integer values for certain mechanisms. For instance, p = 5 implies the electron–phonon interaction, p = 3 is associated with the electron–magnon interaction and p = 2 applies to the electron–electron interaction. Here we interpret the linear temperature-dependent resistance, widely observed in TBG, as

p \to 1

, which implies the quasielastic charge interaction with acoustic phonons. Thus, we fitted TBG resistance curves to the Bloch–Grüneisen equation, where we propose that p is a free-fitting parameter. We found that TBGs have a smoothly varied p-value (ranging from 1.4 to 4.4) depending on the Moiré superlattice constant, λ, or the charge carrier concentration, n. This implies that different mechanisms of the charge carrier interaction in TBG superlattices smoothly transition from one mechanism to another depending on, at least, λ and n. The proposed generalized Bloch–Grüneisen equation is applicable to a wide range of disciplines, including superconductivity and geology. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Superconductivity in Nanoscaled Systems)

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11 pages, 2768 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Relationship between the T_C of Smart Meta-Superconductor Bi(Pb)SrCaCuO and Inhomogeneous Phase Content

by Honggang Chen, Mingzhong Wang, Yao Qi, Yongbo Li and Xiaopeng Zhao

Nanomaterials 2021, 11(5), 1061; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano11051061 - 21 Apr 2021

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 3623

Abstract

A smart meta-superconductor Bi(Pb)SrCaCuO (B(P)SCCO) may increase the critical transition temperature (T_C) of B(P)SCCO by electroluminescence (EL) energy injection of inhomogeneous phases. However, the increase amplitude ΔT_C ( [...] Read more.

Δ T_{C} = T_{C} - T_{C, p u r e}

) of T_C is relatively small. In this study, a smart meta-superconductor B(P)SCCO with different matrix sizes was designed. Three kinds of raw materials with different particle sizes were used, and different series of Y₂O₃:Sm³⁺, Y₂O₃, Y₂O₃:Eu³⁺, and Y₂O₃:Eu³⁺+Ag-doped samples and pure B(P)SCCO were prepared. Results indicated that the T_C of the Y₂O₃ or Y₂O₃:Sm³⁺ non-luminescent dopant doping sample is lower than that of pure B(P)SCCO. However, the T_C of the Y₂O₃:Eu³⁺+Ag or Y₂O₃:Eu³⁺ luminescent inhomogeneous phase doping sample is higher than that of pure B(P)SCCO. With the decrease of the raw material particle size from 30 to 5 μm, the particle size of the B(P)SCCO superconducting matrix in the prepared samples decreases, and the doping content of the Y₂O₃:Eu³⁺+Ag or Y₂O₃:Eu³⁺ increases from 0.2% to 0.4%. Meanwhile, the increase of the inhomogeneous phase content enhances the ΔT_C. When the particle size of raw material is 5 μm, the doping concentration of the luminescent inhomogeneous phase can be increased to 0.4%. At this time, the zero-resistance temperature and onset transition temperature of the Y₂O₃:Eu³⁺+Ag doped sample are 4 and 6.3 K higher than those of pure B(P)SCCO, respectively. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Superconductivity in Nanoscaled Systems)

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7 pages, 2810 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Nanoscale Superconducting States in the Fe-Based Filamentary Superconductor of Pr-Doped CaFe₂As₂

by Giang D. Nguyen, Mingming Fu, Qiang Zou, Liurukara D. Sanjeewa, An-Ping Li, Athena S. Sefat and Zheng Gai

Nanomaterials 2021, 11(4), 1019; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano11041019 - 16 Apr 2021

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2624

Abstract

The low-temperature scanning tunneling microscope and spectroscopy (STM/STS) are used to visualize superconducting states in the cleaved single crystal of 9% praseodymium-doped CaFe₂As₂ (Pr-Ca122) with T_c ≈ 30 K. The spectroscopy shows strong spatial variations in the density of states (DOS), and the superconducting map constructed from spectroscopy discloses a localized superconducting phase, as small as a single unit cell. The comparison of the spectra taken at 4.2 K and 22 K (below vs. close to the bulk superconducting transition temperature) from the exact same area confirms the superconducting behavior. Nanoscale superconducting states have been found near Pr dopants, which can be identified using dI/dV conductance maps at +300 mV. There is no correlation of the local superconductivity to the surface reconstruction domain and surface defects, which reflects its intrinsic bulk behavior. We, therefore, suggest that the local strain of Pr dopants is competing with defects induced local magnetic moments; this competition is responsible for the local superconducting states observed in this Fe-based filamentary superconductor. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Superconductivity in Nanoscaled Systems)

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14 pages, 1077 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Supercurrent Induced by Chiral Coupling in Multiferroic/Superconductor Nanostructures

by Bjoern Niedzielski, Chenglong Jia and Jamal Berakdar

Nanomaterials 2021, 11(1), 184; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano11010184 - 13 Jan 2021

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2464

Abstract

We study the transport and the superconducting dynamics in a layer of type II superconductor (SC) with a normal top layer that hosts a helical magnetic ordering that gives rise to spin-current-driven ferroelectric polarization. Proximity effects akin to this heterostructure result in an anisotropic supercurrent transport and modify the dynamic properties of vortices in the SC. The vortices can be acted upon and controlled by electric gating or other means that couple to the spin ordering in the top layer, which, in turn, alter the superconducting/helical magnet coupling characteristics. We demonstrate, using the time dependent Ginzburg–Landau approach, how the spin helicity of the top layer can be utilized for pinning and guiding the vortices in the superconducting layer. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Superconductivity in Nanoscaled Systems)

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10 pages, 2764 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Simplicity Out of Complexity: Band Structure for W₂₀O₅₈ Superconductor

by A.A. Slobodchikov, I.A. Nekrasov, N.S. Pavlov and M.M. Korshunov

Nanomaterials 2021, 11(1), 97; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano11010097 - 4 Jan 2021

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2543

Abstract

The band structure, density of states, and the Fermi surface of a recently discovered superconductor, oxygen-deficient tungsten oxide WO

_{2.9}

that is equivalent to W

_{20}

_{58}

, is studied within the density functional theory (DFT) in the generalized gradient approximation (GGA). [...] Read more.

The band structure, density of states, and the Fermi surface of a recently discovered superconductor, oxygen-deficient tungsten oxide WO

_{2.9}

that is equivalent to W

_{20}

_{58}

, is studied within the density functional theory (DFT) in the generalized gradient approximation (GGA). Here we show that despite the extremely complicated structure containing 78 atoms in the unit cell, the low-energy band structure is quite feasible. Fermi level is crossed by no more than 10 bands per one spin projection (and even 9 bands per pseudospin projection when the spin-orbit coupling is considered) originating from the t

_{2 g}

5d-orbitals of tungsten atoms forming zigzag chains. These bands become occupied because of the specific zigzag octahedra distortions. To demonstrate the role of distortions, we compare band structures of W

_{20}

_{58}

with the real crystal structure and with the idealized one. We also propose a basis for a minimal low-energy tight-binding model for W

_{20}

_{58}

. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Superconductivity in Nanoscaled Systems)

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24 pages, 3957 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Quantum Interference and Nonequilibrium Josephson Currents in Molecular Andreev Interferometers

by Noel L. Plaszkó, Peter Rakyta, József Cserti, Andor Kormányos and Colin J. Lambert

Nanomaterials 2020, 10(6), 1033; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano10061033 - 28 May 2020

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 3059

Abstract

We study the quantum interference (QI) effects in three-terminal Andreev interferometers based on polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) under non-equilibrium conditions. The Andreev interferometer consists of a PAH coupled to two superconducting and one normal conducting terminals. We calculate the current measured in the normal lead as well as the current between the superconducting terminals under non-equilibrium conditions. We show that both the QI arising in the PAH cores and the bias voltage applied to a normal contact have a fundamental effect on the charge distribution associated with the Andreev Bound States (ABSs). QI can lead to a peculiar dependence of the normal current on the superconducting phase difference that was not observed in earlier studies of mesoscopic Andreev interferometers. We explain our results by an induced asymmetry in the spatial distribution of the electron- and hole-like quasiparticles. The non-equilibrium charge occupation induced in the central PAH core can result in a

π

transition in the current-phase relation of the supercurrent for large enough applied bias voltage on the normal lead. The asymmetry in the spatial distribution of the electron- and hole-like quasiparticles might be used to split Cooper pairs and hence to produce entangled electrons in four terminal setups. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Superconductivity in Nanoscaled Systems)

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8 pages, 3470 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Enhancement of Superconductivity by Amorphizing Molybdenum Silicide Films Using a Focused Ion Beam

by Emma Mykkänen, Arijit Bera, Janne S. Lehtinen, Alberto Ronzani, Katja Kohopää, Teresa Hönigl-Decrinis, Rais Shaikhaidarov, Sebastian E. de Graaf, Joonas Govenius and Mika Prunnila

Nanomaterials 2020, 10(5), 950; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano10050950 - 16 May 2020

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 3510

Abstract

We have used focused ion beam irradiation to progressively cause defects in annealed molybdenum silicide thin films. Without the treatment, the films are superconducting with critical temperature of about 1 K. We observe that both resistivity and critical temperature increase as the ion dose is increased. For resistivity, the increase is almost linear, whereas critical temperature changes abruptly at the smallest doses and then remains almost constant at 4 K. We believe that our results originate from amorphization of the polycrystalline molybdenum silicide films. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Superconductivity in Nanoscaled Systems)

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9 pages, 10880 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Induced Topological Superconductivity in a BiSbTeSe₂-Based Josephson Junction

by Bob de Ronde, Chuan Li, Yingkai Huang and Alexander Brinkman

Nanomaterials 2020, 10(4), 794; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano10040794 - 21 Apr 2020

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 4861

Abstract

A 4

π

-periodic supercurrent through a Josephson junction can be a consequence of the presence of Majorana bound states. A systematic study of the radio frequency response for several temperatures and frequencies yields a concrete protocol for examining the 4

π

-periodic [...] Read more.

A 4

π

π

-periodic contribution to the supercurrent. This work also reports the observation of a 4

π

-periodic contribution to the supercurrent in BiSbTeSe

_{2}

-based Josephson junctions. As a response to irradiation by radio frequency waves, the junctions showed an absence of the first Shapiro step. At high irradiation power, a qualitative correspondence to a model including a 4

π

-periodic component to the supercurrent is found. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Superconductivity in Nanoscaled Systems)

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15 pages, 1798 KiB

Open AccessArticle

DC Self-Field Critical Current in Superconductor/Dirac-Cone Material/Superconductor Junctions

by Evgueni F. Talantsev

Nanomaterials 2019, 9(11), 1554; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano9111554 - 1 Nov 2019

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 4229

Abstract

Recently, several research groups have reported on anomalous enhancement of the self-field critical currents, I_c(sf,T), at low temperatures in superconductor/Dirac-cone material/superconductor (S/DCM/S) junctions. Some papers attributed the enhancement to the low-energy Andreev bound states arising from winding of the electronic wave function around DCM. In this paper, I_c(sf,T) in S/DCM/S junctions have been analyzed by two approaches: modified Ambegaokar-Baratoff and ballistic Titov-Beenakker models. It is shown that the ballistic model, which is traditionally considered to be a basic model to describe I_c(sf,T) in S/DCM/S junctions, is an inadequate tool to analyze experimental data from these type of junctions, while Ambegaokar-Baratoff model, which is generally considered to be a model for I_c(sf,T) in superconductor/insulator/superconductor junctions, provides good experimental data description. Thus, there is a need to develop a new model for self-field critical currents in S/DCM/S systems. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Superconductivity in Nanoscaled Systems)

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Review

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19 pages, 3449 KiB

Open AccessReview

Nanosized Pinning Centers in the Rare Earth-Barium-Copper-Oxide Thin-Film Superconductors

by Filip Antončík, Ondřej Jankovský, Tomáš Hlásek and Vilém Bartůněk

Nanomaterials 2020, 10(8), 1429; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano10081429 - 22 Jul 2020

Cited by 17 | Viewed by 5994

Abstract

Since the discovery of high-temperature superconductivity, significant progress in the fabrication of REBCO-based (Rare Earth Barium Copper mixed Oxides) thin-films superconductors has been achieved. In our review, we described the approaches and possibilities of the improvement of superconducting properties by the introduction of nanosized pinning centers. We focused on the synthesis and viability of the material for artificial pinning centers and methods used for the introduction of the pinning centers into superconducting REBCO-based thin-films. This article summarizes available materials and procedures regardless of the financial cost of the individual method. According to available literature, the most significant superconducting REBCO tapes can be obtained when a combination of 1D and 0D nanoparticles are used for nanoscale pinning. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Superconductivity in Nanoscaled Systems)

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20 pages, 1472 KiB

Open AccessReview

Unconventional Applications of Superconducting Nanowire Single Photon Detectors

by Tomas Polakovic, Whitney Armstrong, Goran Karapetrov, Zein-Eddine Meziani and Valentine Novosad

Nanomaterials 2020, 10(6), 1198; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano10061198 - 19 Jun 2020

Cited by 35 | Viewed by 7588

Abstract

Superconducting nanowire single photon detectors are becoming a dominant technology in quantum optics and quantum communication, primarily because of their low timing jitter and capability to detect individual low-energy photons with high quantum efficiencies. However, other desirable characteristics, such as high detection rates, operation in cryogenic and high magnetic field environments, or high-efficiency detection of charged particles, are underrepresented in literature, potentially leading to a lack of interest in other fields that might benefit from this technology. We review the progress in use of superconducting nanowire technology in photon and particle detection outside of the usual areas of physics, with emphasis on the potential use in ongoing and future experiments in nuclear and high energy physics. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Superconductivity in Nanoscaled Systems)

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