Increased superconducting transition temperature of a niobium thin-film   proximity-coupled to gold nanoparticles using linking organic molecules
  The superconducting critical temperature, TC, of thin Nb films is significantly modified when gold nanoparticles (NPs) are chemically linked to the Nb film, with a consistent enhancement when using 3 nm long disilane linker molecules. The TC increases by up to 10% for certain linker length and NPs size. No change is observed when the nanoparticles are physisorbed with non-linking molecules. Electron tunneling spectra acquired on the linked NPs below TC typically exhibit zero-bias peaks. We attribute these results to a pairing mechanism coupling electrons in the Nb and the NPs, mediated by the organic linkers. 
Eran Katzir, Shira Yochelis, Felix Zeides, Nadav Katz, Yoav Kalcheim,   Oded Millo, Gregory Leitus, Yuri Myasodeyov, Boris Y...
cond-mat.supr-con quant-ph