Superconductor-Based Electron Transfer Studies Below the Critical Temperature

本研究的重点是利用有机导体/高温超导混合结构，通过邻近效应在有机导体中诱导超导电性。利用化学和电化学技术，制备了许多适合研究超导邻近效应的结构。这项工作的一个主要目标是研究发生在超导体/分子相界面上或附近的电子转移现象。在超导转变温度上下进行测量，以寻找超导量子电子转移现象。大多数研究都使用了铜酸盐超导体，因为低于转变温度的测量可以很容易地完成。本研究的第二个目标是制作基于分子导体包覆的高温超导薄膜的接近器件。然后研究了底层铜酸盐材料的超导转变温度的调制。探讨了聚合物层对超导薄膜相变温度的影响。在最近的研究中，我们展示了第一个控制超导电性的分子开关。拟议研究的最终目标是开发新型有机导体/超导电路、器件和传感器。通过对各种分子导体/高温超导体结构的研究，将有助于阐明陶瓷超导体的超导性质，并有助于阐明聚合物的导电机制。导电聚合物的使用也应该提供与高温超导体进行电接触的替代策略。通过在这样的系统中加入有机导体，这些界面上的一些退化可能被消除。

This research is focussed on the induction of superconductivity into organic conductors via the proximity effect through the use of hybrid organic conductor/high temperature superconductor structures. Using chemical and electrochemical techniques, a number of structures suitable for the study of superconducting proximity effect are fabricated. One major goal of this work is to study electron transfer phenomena which occur at or near superconductor/molecular phase interfaces. Measurements are conducted above and below the superconducting transition temperature to search for superconducting quantum electron transfer phenomena. Cuprate superconductors are used for the majority of the studies because measurements below transition temperature can be completed readily. The second goal of this research is to fabricate proximity devices based on high temperature superconductor thin films coated with molecular conductors. The modulation of the superconducting transition temperature of the underling cuprate material then is examined. Also, the influence of polymer layer on the transition temperature of the superconductor film is explored. In recent studies, we have demonstrated the first molecular switch for controlling superconductivity. The ultimate goal of the proposed research is to develop new types of organic conductor/ superconductor circuits, devices and sensors. Through the study of a variety of molecular conductor/high temperature superconductor structures, information will be acquired that may help to elucidate the nature of superconductivity in the ceramic superconductors and shed light on the conduction mechanism in the polymers. The use of conductive polymers also should provide alternative strategies for making electrical contacts to high-temperature superconductors. By incorporating an organic conductor into such systems, some of the degradation at these interfaces may be eliminated.