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Direct observation of nanometer size hydride precipitations in superconducting niobium

delete2024-11-06
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OA
AI
Z
Zuhawn Sung *
A
A. Cano
A
Akshay A. Murthy
D
Daniel Bafia
E
Evguenia Karapetrova
M
Martina Martinello
J
Jaeyel Lee
A
Anna Grassellino
A
Alexander Romanenko
DOI:10.1038/s41598-024-77905-6delete
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Abstract

Abstract

En 中文
Superconducting niobium serves as a key enabling material for superconducting radio frequency (SRF) technology as well as quantum computing devices. Niobium has a high propensity for the uptake of hydrogen. At room temperature, hydrogen commonly occupies tetragonal sites in the Nb lattice as the metal (M)-gas (H) phase. When the temperature is decreased, however, a solid solution of Nb-H begins to precipitate. In this study, we show the first identified topographical features associated with nanometer-size hydride phase (Nb1-xHx) precipitates on the surface of the metallic superconducting niobium using cryogenic-atomic force microscopy (AFM). Further, high energy grazing incidence X-ray diffraction reveals information regarding the structure and stoichiometry of these precipitates. Finally, through time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectroscopy (ToF-SIMS), we locate atomic hydrogen sources near the top surface. This systematic study clarifies nanometer scale hydrides precipitated on the surface of the SRF Nb cavity that exhibit performance degradation at a high accelerating field regime.
Keywords:
HYDROGEN ABSORPTION
SURFACE
SYSTEM
KINETICS
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Journal

Scientific Reports cover
Scientific Reports
IF:
3.9
Papers:
27.1W
Citations:
83.5W

Organization

U
university of chicago
Scholars:
4.4W
Papers: 3.7W
Citations: 80
U
united states department of energy (doe)
Scholars:
11.2W
Papers: 9.6W
Citations: 246