A Mini Review on Thin Film Superconductors

Abstract

Thin superconducting films have been a significant part of superconductivity research for more than six decades. They have had a significant impact on the existing consensus on the microscopic and macroscopic nature of the superconducting state. Thin-film superconductors have properties that are very different and superior to bulk material. Amongst the various classification criteria, thin-film superconductors can be classified into Fe based thin-film superconductors, layered titanium compound thin-film superconductors, intercalation compounds of layered and cage-like structures, and other thin-film superconductors that do not fall into these groups. There are various techniques of manufacturing thin films, which include atomic layer deposition (ALD), chemical vapour deposition (CVD), physical vapour deposition (PVD), molecular beam epitaxy (MBE), sputtering, electron beam evaporation, laser ablation, cathodic arc, and pulsed laser deposition (PLD). Thin film technology offers a lucrative scheme of creating engineered surfaces and opens a wide exploration of prospects to modify material properties for specific applications, such as those that depend on surfaces. This review paper reports on the different types and groups of superconductors, fabrication of thin-film superconductors by MBE, PLD, and ALD, their applications, and various challenges faced by superconductor technologies. Amongst all the thin film manufacturing techniques, more focus is put on the fabrication of thin film superconductors by atomic layer deposition because of the growing popularity the process has gained in the past decade.