Proximity effect in a superconductor-metallofullerene-superconductor molecular junction

Abstract

We report low-temperature transport measurements through molecules of Gd metallofullerenes between superconducting suspended electrodes. The presence and number of molecules in the $2\text{\ensuremath{-}}\mathrm{nm}$-wide gap between electrodes was determined by high resolution transmission electron microscopy. We find that a junction containing a single metallofullerene dimer between superconducting electrodes displays signs of proximity-induced superconductivity. In contrast, no proximity effect develops in junctions containing a larger cluster of metallofullerenes. These results can be understood by taking into account multiple Andreev reflections, and the spin states of the Gd atoms.