Fabrication effects on Niobium oxidation and surface contamination in Niobium-metal bilayers using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy

Fuente: arXiv
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Autores principales: Banerjee, Tathagata, Olszewski, Maciej W., Fatemi, Valla
Formato: Preprint
Publicado: 2026
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author Banerjee, Tathagata
Olszewski, Maciej W.
Fatemi, Valla
author_facet Banerjee, Tathagata
Olszewski, Maciej W.
Fatemi, Valla
contents Superconducting resonators and qubits are limited by dielectric losses from surface oxides. Surface oxides are mitigated through various strategies such as the addition of a metal capping layer, surface passivation, and acid processing. In this study, we demonstrate the use of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) as a rapid characterization tool to study the effectiveness cap layers for niobium for further device fabrication. We non-destructively evaluate 17 capping layers to characterize their ability to prevent oxygen diffusion, and the effects of standard fabrication processes -- annealing, resist stripping, and acid cleaning. We downselect for resilient capping layers and test their microwave resonator performance.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2601_21953
institution arXiv
publishDate 2026
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Fabrication effects on Niobium oxidation and surface contamination in Niobium-metal bilayers using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy
Banerjee, Tathagata
Olszewski, Maciej W.
Fatemi, Valla
Materials Science
Quantum Physics
Superconducting resonators and qubits are limited by dielectric losses from surface oxides. Surface oxides are mitigated through various strategies such as the addition of a metal capping layer, surface passivation, and acid processing. In this study, we demonstrate the use of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) as a rapid characterization tool to study the effectiveness cap layers for niobium for further device fabrication. We non-destructively evaluate 17 capping layers to characterize their ability to prevent oxygen diffusion, and the effects of standard fabrication processes -- annealing, resist stripping, and acid cleaning. We downselect for resilient capping layers and test their microwave resonator performance.
title Fabrication effects on Niobium oxidation and surface contamination in Niobium-metal bilayers using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy
topic Materials Science
Quantum Physics
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2601.21953