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Superconducting diode effect via conformal-mapped nanoholes
Yang-Yang Lyu1,2, Ji Jiang3,4, Yong-Lei Wang5
1Research Institute of Superconductor Electronics, School of Electronic Science and Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China.
Nature Communications
|May 12, 2021
Summary
Researchers developed a superconducting diode using patterned nanoscale holes in a conventional film. This breakthrough enables ultralow power consumption electronics by breaking inversion symmetry for efficient current rectification.
Area of Science:
- Condensed Matter Physics
- Materials Science
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Superconducting diodes offer dissipationless current flow for ultralow power electronics.
- Conventional superconducting diodes require non-centrosymmetric materials, which are rare.
- Existing superconducting diodes have limited rectification efficiency.
Purpose of the Study:
- To demonstrate a novel superconducting diode in a conventional material.
- To break spatial inversion symmetry using nanoscale patterning.
- To achieve efficient and tunable current rectification for superconducting electronics.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of a conventional superconducting film patterned with a conformal array of nanoscale holes.
- Characterization of the device to demonstrate the superconducting diode effect.
- Measurement of rectification signals and comparison with existing technologies.
Main Results:
- Successfully demonstrated a superconducting diode effect in a patterned conventional superconducting film.
- Achieved switchable and reversible rectification signals.
- Rectification signals were up to three orders of magnitude larger than those from flux-quantum diodes.
Conclusions:
- Patterning superconducting films with nanoscale holes effectively breaks spatial inversion symmetry.
- This method provides a convenient, tunable, and advantageous approach for creating superconducting diodes.
- The technique is broadly applicable to various superconducting materials, including high-transition-temperature cuprates and iron-based superconductors.
