International Business Machines Corporation
Silicide passivation of niobium

Abstract:

A superconducting device which includes a substrate, multiple niobium leads formed on the substrate, a niobium silicide (NbSi.sub.x) passivation layer formed on a surface of at least one of the multiple niobium leads, and an aluminum lead formed directly on at least a portion of the NbSi.sub.x passivation layer such that an interface therebetween is substantially free of oxygen and oxidized material, where the multiple niobium leads and the aluminum lead are constructed to carry a supercurrent while in use.