Spatially correlated microstructure and superconductivity in polycrystalline boron-doped diamond

F. Dahlem, P. Achatz, O. A. Williams, D. Araujo, E. Bustarret, and H. Courtois

Phys. Rev. B 82, 033306 – Published 30 July 2010

Abstract

Scanning tunneling spectroscopies are performed below 100 mK on polycrystalline boron-doped diamond films characterized by transmission electron microscopy and transport measurements. We demonstrate a strong correlation between the local superconductivity strength and the granular structure of the films. The study of the spectral shape, amplitude, and temperature dependence of the superconductivity gap enables us to differentiate intrinsically superconducting grains that follow the BCS model, from grains showing a different behavior involving the superconducting proximity effect.

Received 18 June 2010

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.82.033306

Authors & Affiliations

F. Dahlem¹, P. Achatz¹, O. A. Williams^2,*, D. Araujo³, E. Bustarret¹, and H. Courtois¹

¹Institut Néel, CNRS and Université Joseph Fourier, 25 Avenue des Martyrs, 38042 Grenoble, France
²Division IMOMEC, IMEC vzw, Wetenschapspark 1, B-3590 Diepenbeek, Belgium
³Departamento Ciencia de los Materiales e IMyQI, Universidad de Cadiz, 11510 Puerto Real, Spain

^*Present address: Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Solid State Physics, Tullastrasse 72, 79108 Freiburg, Germany.

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Issue

Vol. 82, Iss. 3 — 15 July 2010

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