Transforming Native Oxide into a Metallic Platinum--Niobium Alloy for Passivation of Superconducting Niobium Films
Researchers investigated transforming native oxide layers on niobium superconducting films into a stable Nb-Pt alloy using thermal annealing. They found that this process creates a Pt-rich interfacial layer that suppresses further oxide growth and forms a chemically stable metallic interface. This strategy is crucial for improving the coherence and reliability of niobium superconducting devices.