SBIR-STTR Award

High-temperature superconducting detectors have a unique place in sensor technology because they can operate over a broad range of wavelengths from infrared to beyond microwaves. They can be used as bolometers as well as quantum detectors. Their use, however, will be determined by their resistance to damage from numerous degrading agents in a typical working environment. Therefore, protecting the superconducting elements in these instruments with passivating techniques is necessary. This project will develop a process that will form a composite thin-film structure by depositing infrared-transmissive, hard, diamond-like carbon (DLC) film as a protective top layer over a high-temperature superconducting thin film. The room-temperature- deposited DLC film should not alter the composition of the underlying superconductor while it provides an excellent, hard, hermetic, conformal coverage. The protective layer will be deposited by a laser-plasma hybrid technique which produces hard, chemically resistant, hydrogen-free, DLC films at room temperature. The deposited films will be evaluated by various surface techniques to probe the surface as well as the interface of the films, and pH measurements will be applied to evaluate inertness of the surface to ambient moisture. Phase I will concentrate on depositing and characterizing these films and optimizing the deposition parameters to obtain the desired characteristics. Using several samples, the firm will evaluate how the protective coverage affects the superconducting properties of the underlying film and the mechanical stability of the protective layer and the interface, especially during the cooldown and warmup cycles typical of their usage. Phase II will fabricate and characterize a robust YBCO detector with a protective coating of DLC film.

Potential Commercial Applications:
This project may result in thick and thin, high-temperature superconducting films with long shelf life and no need for special storage procedures. Encapsulated devices may also be made from superconducting thin films.

___(NOTE: Note: no official Abstract exists of this Phase II projects. Abstract is modified by idi from relevant Phase I data. The specific Phase II work statement and objectives may differ)___ High-temperature superconducting detectors have a unique place in sensor technology because they can operate over a broad range of wavelengths from infrared to beyond microwaves. They can be used as bolometers as well as quantum detectors. Their use, however, will be determined by their resistance to damage from numerous degrading agents in a typical working environment. Therefore, protecting the superconducting elements in these instruments with passivating techniques is necessary. This project will develop a process that will form a composite thin-film structure by depositing infrared-transmissive, hard, diamond-like carbon (DLC) film as a protective top layer over a high-temperature superconducting thin film. The room-temperature- deposited DLC film should not alter the composition of the underlying superconductor while it provides an excellent, hard, hermetic, conformal coverage. The protective layer will be deposited by a laser-plasma hybrid technique which produces hard, chemically resistant, hydrogen-free, DLC films at room temperature. The deposited films will be evaluated by various surface techniques to probe the surface as well as the interface of the films, and pH measurements will be applied to evaluate inertness of the surface to ambient moisture. Phase I will concentrate on depositing and characterizing these films and optimizing the deposition parameters to obtain the desired characteristics. Using several samples, the firm will evaluate how the protective coverage affects the superconducting properties of the underlying film and the mechanical stability of the protective layer and the interface, especially during the cooldown and warmup cycles typical of their usage. Phase II will fabricate and characterize a robust YBCO detector with a protective coating of DLC film.

Potential Commercial Applications:
This project may result in thick and thin, high-temperature superconducting films with long shelf life and no need for special storage procedures. Encapsulated devices may also be made from superconducting thin films.