Ultrathin semiconductor materials successfully linked with superconductors for an initial junction
In a groundbreaking development in the field of nanotechnology, researchers at the University of Basel have managed to equip an ultrathin semiconductor with superconducting contacts for the first time. The study, published in the prestigious journal Nano Letters, sheds light on the potential applications of these hybrid monolayer semiconductor components.
The research team, led by Professor Christian Schönenberger, focused on the semiconductor molybdenum disulfide, which is known for its unique properties. In this semiconductor, electrons perform a different dance, incorporating their magnetic moments. The team aimed to combine this semiconductor with superconducting contacts to explore new properties and physical phenomena.
The fabrication process involved a sandwich-like structure made of various materials. First, the researchers stacked a boron nitride layer onto the molybdenum disulfide layer. This was followed by a layer of graphene for electrical control. The contact material used was molybdenum rhenium, which retains its superconducting properties in strong magnetic fields.
The final step was placing the van der Waals heterostructure on top of a silicon/silicon-dioxide wafer. To etch contacts vertically through the boron nitride layers, the team used electron-beam lithography and ion etching.
The electrical measurements at low temperatures, required for superconductivity, show the effects caused by the superconductor and indications of a strong coupling between the semiconductor layer and the superconductor. Until now, researchers have not succeeded in combining such a monolayer with superconducting contacts.
The new component promises unique characteristics, such as the use of electric fields to influence the magnetic moments of electrons. The researchers hope that these hybrid monolayer semiconductor components can be applied to a large number of semiconductors and potentially other exotic contact materials.
The study, with the DOI 10.1021/acs.nanolett.1c00615, was conducted under a protective nitrogen atmosphere in a glove box. The researchers worldwide are now investigating how these thin semiconductors can be stacked to form new synthetic materials, known as van der Waals heterostructures, and the complex quantum mechanical phenomena that may have applications in quantum technology.
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