Single crystal superconductor nanowires by electrodeposition

Abstract

Superconducting Pb wires (diameter∼50 nm) have been prepared by pulse electrodeposition in nanoporous membranes. Single crystal or polycrystalline nanowires may be grown selectively and reproducibly depending on the pulse parameters. Unexpectedly, the growth of single crystal wires requires a greater departure from equilibrium conditions (greater overpotential) than the growth of polycrystalline ones. The importance of controlling the crystal texture is demonstrated by measurements of the superconducting transition temperature Tc which give significantly different results for polycrystalline and single crystal nanowires.