Superconducting molybdenum-rhenium electrodes for single-molecule transport studies

TL;DR

This paper introduces a method to use superconducting molybdenum-rhenium electrodes in single-molecule transport studies, enabling superconductivity at higher temperatures and magnetic fields than previous aluminum-based systems.

Contribution

It demonstrates the integration of MoRe superconducting electrodes with gold for single-molecule transport, extending operational conditions beyond prior aluminum-based devices.

Findings

Superconductivity induced in gold electrodes up to 4.6 K and 6 T.

Successful three-terminal superconductive measurements on Fe4 single-molecule magnet.

Enhanced superconducting properties compared to aluminum-based nanojunctions.

Abstract

We demonstrate that electronic transport through single molecules or molecular ensembles, commonly based on gold (Au) electrodes, can be extended to superconducting electrodes by combining gold with molybdenum-rhenium (MoRe). This combination induces proximity-effect superconductivity in the gold to temperatures of at least 4.6 Kelvin and magnetic fields of 6 Tesla, improving on previously reported aluminum based superconducting nanojunctions. As a proof of concept, we show three-terminal superconductive transport measurements through an individual Fe$_4$ single-molecule magnet.