Patternable Mesoporous Thin Film Quantum Materials via Block Copolymer Self-Assembly: An Emergent Technology?

• DOI: 10.1021/acsami.1c09085
• Publication Date: 2021-07-19T16:21:42Z
• Authors: Fei Yu; R. Paxton Thedford; Konrad R. Hedderick; Guillaume Freychet; Mikhail Zhernenkov; Lara A. Estroff; Katja C. Nowack; Sol M. Gruner; Ulrich B. Wiesner
• Keywords: Film Quantum Materials; superconducting; Chemical Sciences not elsewhere classified; synthesis; quantum materials; Electrical transport measurements; mesostructure; 02 engineering and technology; Biochemistry; Spin-coated as-made BCP-niobia; as-made BCP-niobia films; patternable mesoporous niobium carb.; Space Science; niobia sol precursors; scalable solution-based quantum mat.; Grazing incidence small-angle X-ray; matter self-assembly; Computational Biology; Block Copolymer Self-Assembly; phase-pure niobium carbonitride nan.; 620; resistivity; technology; Medicine; scalable solution processing; 0210 nano-technology; Physical Sciences not elsewhere classified; Biotechnology

Recent developments in quantum materials hold promise for revolutionizing energy and information technologies. The use of soft matter self-assembly, example, by employing block copolymers (BCPs) as structure directing or templating agents, offers facile pathways toward metamaterials with highly tunable mesostructures via scalable solution processing. Here, we report the preparation patternable mesoporous niobium carbonitride-type thin film superconductors through spin-coating a hybrid containing an amphiphilic BCP swollen niobia sol precursors subsequent thermal processing combination photolithography. Spin-coated as-made BCP-niobia films on silicon substrates after optional photolithographic definition are heated air to produce porous oxide, subsequently converted multistep process carbonitrides treatment high temperatures reactive gases including ammonia. Grazing incidence small-angle X-ray scattering suggests presence ordered without further annealing, consistent distorted alternating gyroid morphology that is retained upon treatments. Wide-angle confirms synthesis phase-pure carbonitride nanocrystals rock-salt lattices within mesoscale networks. Electrical transport measurements unpatterned show initial exponential rise resistivity characteristic activation granular systems down 12.8 K, at which point drops zero into superconducting state. Magnetoresistance determine upper critical field be over 16 T, demonstrating material quality par obtained from traditional solid-state methods. We discuss how such cost-effective solution-based fabrication approaches may integrated existing microelectronics processing, promising emergence technology tremendous academic industrial potential combining capabilities self-assembly materials.