First Direct Observation of Nanometer size Hydride Precipitations on Superconducting Niobium

Superconducting niobium serves as a key enabling material for superconducting radio frequency (SRF) technology as well as quantum computing devices. At room temperature, hydrogen commonly occupies tetragonal sites in the Nb lattice as metal (M)-gas (H) phase. When the temperature is decreased, howev...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:arXiv.org 2023-05
Main Authors: Zu Hawn Sung, Cano, Arely, Murthy, Akshay, Karapetrova, Evguenia, Lee, Jaeyel, Martinello, Martina, Grassellino, Anna, Romanenko, Alexander
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Atomic properties
Flight operations
Hydrides
Niobium
Precipitates
Proximity effect (electricity)
Quantum computing
Room temperature
Secondary ion mass spectroscopy
Solid solutions
Stoichiometry
Superconductivity
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Summary:Superconducting niobium serves as a key enabling material for superconducting radio frequency (SRF) technology as well as quantum computing devices. At room temperature, hydrogen commonly occupies tetragonal sites in the Nb lattice as metal (M)-gas (H) phase. When the temperature is decreased, however, solid solution of Nb-H starts to be precipitated. In this study, we show the first identified topographical features associated with nanometer-size hydride phase (Nb1-xHx) precipitates on metallic superconducting niobium using cryogenic-atomic force microscopy (AFM). Further, high energy grazing incidence X-ray diffraction reveals information regarding the structure and stoichiometry that these precipitates exhibit. Finally, through time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectroscopy (ToF-SIMS), we are able to locate atomic hydrogen sources near the top surface. This systematic study further explains localized degradation of RF superconductivity by the proximity effect due to hydrogen clusters.
ISSN:2331-8422