High resistance of superconducting TiN thin films against environmental attacks

作者：Zhangyuan Guo, Min Ge, You-Qi Zhou, Jiachang Bi, Qinghua Zhang, Jiahui Zhang, Jintao Ye, Rongjing Zhai, Fangfang Ge, Yuan Huang, Ruyi Zhang, Xiong Yao, Liang‐Feng Huang, Yanwei Cao · 发表于：Materials Horizons · 年份：2024 · DOI：10.1039/d4mh00959b · 被引用次数：7 · 研究领域：Metal and Thin Film Mechanics、MXene and MAX Phase Materials、Boron and Carbon Nanomaterials Research

, and FeSe, are highly sensitive to environmental attacks (such as from water and moist air), hindering their wide applications. More importantly, the surface physical and chemical processes of most superconductors in various environments remain poorly understood. Here, we comprehensively investigate the high resistance of superconducting titanium nitride (TiN) epitaxial films against acid and alkali attacks. Unexpectedly, despite immersion in acid and alkaline solutions for over 7 days, the crystal structure and superconducting properties of TiN films remain stable, as demonstrated by high-resolution X-ray diffraction, electrical transport, atomic force microscopy, and scanning electron microscopy. Furthermore, combining scanning transmission electron microscopy analysis with density functional theory calculations revealed the corrosion mechanisms: acid corrosions lead to the creation of numerous defects due to the substitution of Cl ions for N anions, whereas alkaline environments significantly reduce the film thickness through the stabilization of OH* adsorbates. Our results uncover the unexpected stability and durability of superconducting materials against environmental attacks, highlighting their potential for enhanced reliability and longevity in diverse applications.