1.
Phys Rev Lett
; 108(10): 107004, 2012 Mar 09.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-22463444
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.