Charge transport in a single superconducting tin nanowire encapsulated in a multiwalled carbon nanotube

TL;DR

This study investigates charge transport in superconducting tin nanowires encapsulated in multiwalled carbon nanotubes, revealing how contact transparency and local heating influence superconductivity in nanoscale wires.

Contribution

It demonstrates the use of multi-probe measurements to analyze charge transport in stable, ultra-thin superconducting nanowires protected by carbon nanotubes, and explores contact tuning and thermal effects.

Findings

Encapsulation prevents oxidation and shape fragmentation.

Contact transparency can be tuned by argon-ion etching.

Large currents induce local heating that suppresses superconductivity.

Abstract

The charge transport properties of single superconducting tin nanowires, encapsulated by multiwalled carbon nanotubes have been investigated by multi-probe measurements. The multiwalled carbon nanotube protects the tin nanowire from oxidation and shape fragmentation and therefore allows us to investigate the electronic properties of stable wires with diameters as small as 25 nm. The transparency of the contact between the Ti/Au electrode and nanowire can be tuned by argonion etching the multiwalled nanotube. Application of a large electrical current results in local heating at the contact which in turn suppresses superconductivity.