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Updated: May 23, 2026
In Situ Synthesis of Gold Nanoparticles without Aggregation in the Interlayer Space of Layered Titanate Transparent Films
Published on: January 17, 2017
Increased superconducting transition temperature of a niobium thin film proximity coupled to gold nanoparticles using
Eran Katzir1, Shira Yochelis, Felix Zeides
1Applied Physics Department and the Center for Nano-Science and Nano-Technology, the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, 91904 Israel.
Abstract:
The superconducting critical temperature, T(C), of thin Nb films is significantly modified when gold nanoparticles (NPs) are chemically linked to the Nb film, with a consistent enhancement when using 3 nm long disilane linker molecules. The T(C) increases by up to 10% for certain linker length and NP size. No change is observed when the nanoparticles are physisorbed with nonlinking molecules. Electron tunneling spectra acquired on the linked NPs below T(C) typically exhibit zero-bias peaks. We attribute these results to a pairing mechanism coupling electrons in the Nb and the NPs, mediated by the organic linkers.
