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At least 19 records
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2023

Li iontronics in single-crystalline T-Nb2O5 thin films with vertical ionic transport channels

Abstract The niobium oxide polymorph T -Nb 2 O 5 has been extensively investigated in its bulk form especially for applications in fast-charging batteries and electrochemical (pseudo)capacitors. Its crystal structure, which has two-dimensional (2D) layers with very low steric hindrance, allows for fast Li-ion migration. However, since its discovery in 1941, the growth of single-crystalline thin films and its electronic applications have not yet been realized, probably due to its large orthorhombic unit cell along with the existence of many polymorphs. Here we demonstrate the epitaxial growth of single-crystalline T -Nb 2 O 5 thin films, critically with the ionic transport channels oriented perpendicular to the film’s surface. These vertical 2D channels enable fast Li-ion migration, which we show gives rise to a colossal insulator–metal transition, where the resistivity drops by 11 orders of magnitude due to the population of the initially empty Nb 4 d 0 states by electrons. Moreover, we reveal multiple unexplored phase transitions with distinct crystal and electronic structures over a wide range of Li-ion concentrations by comprehensive in situ experiments and theoretical calculations, which allow for the reversible and repeatable manipulation of these phases and their distinct electronic properties. This work paves the way for the exploration of novel thin films with ionic channels and their potential applications.

Chemistry↗
DOE OSTI2022

On the Sintering Behavior of Nb2O5 and Ta2O5 Mixed Oxide Powders

A mixed oxide system consisting of Nb2O5 and Ta2O5, was subjected to annealing in air/hydrogen up to 950 °C for 1–4 h to study its sintering behavior. The thermogravimetric–differential scanning calorimetry (TGA–DSC) thermograms indicated the formation of multiple endothermic peaks at temperatures higher than 925 °C. Subsequently, a 30% Ta2O5 and 70% Nb2O5 (mol%) pellet resulted in good sintering behavior at both 900 and 950 °C. The scanning electron microscope (SEM) images corroborated these observations with necking and particle coarsening. The sintered pellets contained a 20.4 and 20.8% mixed oxide (Nb4Ta2O15) phase, along with Ta2O5 and Nb2O5, at both 900 and 950 °C, indicating the possibility of the formation of a solid solution phase. In situ high-temperature X-ray diffraction (XRD) scans also confirmed the formation of the ternary oxide phase at 6 and 19.8% at 890 and 950 °C, respectively. The Hume–Rothery rules could explain the good sintering behavior of the Ta2O5 and Nb2O5 mixed oxides. An oxide composition of 30% Ta2O5 and 70% Nb2O5 (mol%) and a sintering temperature of 950 °C appeared adequate for fabricating well-sintered oxide precursors for subsequent electrochemical polarization studies in fused salts.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2020

Materials Data on Nb2O5 by Materials Project

Nb2O5 crystallizes in the monoclinic C2 space group. The structure is three-dimensional. Nb5+ is bonded in a 7-coordinate geometry to seven O2- atoms. There are a spread of Nb–O bond distances ranging from 1.90–2.43 Å. There are three inequivalent O2- sites. In the first O2- site, O2- is bonded in a 4-coordinate geometry to four equivalent Nb5+ atoms. In the second O2- site, O2- is bonded in a 2-coordinate geometry to three equivalent Nb5+ atoms. In the third O2- site, O2- is bonded in a water-like geometry to two equivalent Nb5+ atoms.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2020

Materials Data on Nb2O5 by Materials Project

Nb2O5 crystallizes in the monoclinic C2/m space group. The structure is three-dimensional. Nb5+ is bonded to six O2- atoms to form a mixture of distorted corner and edge-sharing NbO6 octahedra. The corner-sharing octahedra tilt angles range from 0–33°. There are a spread of Nb–O bond distances ranging from 1.80–2.26 Å. There are three inequivalent O2- sites. In the first O2- site, O2- is bonded in a distorted linear geometry to two equivalent Nb5+ atoms. In the second O2- site, O2- is bonded in a linear geometry to two equivalent Nb5+ atoms. In the third O2- site, O2- is bonded in a 3-coordinate geometry to three equivalent Nb5+ atoms.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2020

Materials Data on Nb2O5 by Materials Project

Nb2O5 crystallizes in the monoclinic C2/c space group. The structure is three-dimensional. Nb5+ is bonded to six O2- atoms to form a mixture of distorted edge and corner-sharing NbO6 octahedra. The corner-sharing octahedra tilt angles range from 26–57°. There are a spread of Nb–O bond distances ranging from 1.82–2.27 Å. There are three inequivalent O2- sites. In the first O2- site, O2- is bonded in a distorted trigonal planar geometry to three equivalent Nb5+ atoms. In the second O2- site, O2- is bonded in a bent 150 degrees geometry to two equivalent Nb5+ atoms. In the third O2- site, O2- is bonded in a bent 150 degrees geometry to two equivalent Nb5+ atoms.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2020

Materials Data on Nb2O5 by Materials Project

Nb2O5 crystallizes in the triclinic P-1 space group. The structure is three-dimensional. there are ten inequivalent Nb5+ sites. In the first Nb5+ site, Nb5+ is bonded to six O2- atoms to form a mixture of distorted edge and corner-sharing NbO6 octahedra. The corner-sharing octahedra tilt angles range from 2–31°. There are a spread of Nb–O bond distances ranging from 1.85–2.30 Å. In the second Nb5+ site, Nb5+ is bonded to six O2- atoms to form a mixture of distorted edge and corner-sharing NbO6 octahedra. The corner-sharing octahedra tilt angles range from 5–31°. There are a spread of Nb–O bond distances ranging from 1.86–2.27 Å. In the third Nb5+ site, Nb5+ is bonded to six O2- atoms to form a mixture of distorted edge and corner-sharing NbO6 octahedra. The corner-sharing octahedra tilt angles range from 5–9°. There are a spread of Nb–O bond distances ranging from 1.84–2.37 Å. In the fourth Nb5+ site, Nb5+ is bonded in a 6-coordinate geometry to six O2- atoms. There are a spread of Nb–O bond distances ranging from 1.82–2.41 Å. In the fifth Nb5+ site, Nb5+ is bonded to six O2- atoms to form a mixture of distorted edge and corner-sharing NbO6 octahedra. The corner-sharing octahedra tilt angles range from 2–32°. There are a spread of Nb–O bond distances ranging from 1.88–2.26 Å. In the sixth Nb5+ site, Nb5+ is bonded to six O2- atoms to form a mixture of distorted edge and corner-sharing NbO6 octahedra. The corner-sharing octahedra tilt angles range from 4–32°. There are a spread of Nb–O bond distances ranging from 1.83–2.37 Å. In the seventh Nb5+ site, Nb5+ is bonded to six O2- atoms to form a mixture of distorted edge and corner-sharing NbO6 octahedra. The corner-sharing octahedra tilt angles range from 9–30°. There are a spread of Nb–O bond distances ranging from 1.86–2.38 Å. In the eighth Nb5+ site, Nb5+ is bonded to six O2- atoms to form a mixture of distorted edge and corner-sharing NbO6 octahedra. The corner-sharing octahedra tilt angles range from 4–30°. There are a spread of Nb–O bond distances ranging from 1.86–2.31 Å. In the ninth Nb5+ site, Nb5+ is bonded in a 4-coordinate geometry to six O2- atoms. There are a spread of Nb–O bond distances ranging from 1.86–2.52 Å. In the tenth Nb5+ site, Nb5+ is bonded to six O2- atoms to form corner-sharing NbO6 octahedra. The corner-sharing octahedra tilt angles range from 0–9°. There are a spread of Nb–O bond distances ranging from 1.95–2.06 Å. There are twenty-six inequivalent O2- sites. In the first O2- site, O2- is bonded in a linear geometry to two Nb5+ atoms. In the second O2- site, O2- is bonded in a linear geometry to two Nb5+ atoms. In the third O2- site, O2- is bonded in a linear geometry to two Nb5+ atoms. In the fourth O2- site, O2- is bonded in a linear geometry to two Nb5+ atoms. In the fifth O2- site, O2- is bonded in a 2-coordinate geometry to three Nb5+ atoms. In the sixth O2- site, O2- is bonded in a 3-coordinate geometry to three Nb5+ atoms. In the seventh O2- site, O2- is bonded in a linear geometry to two Nb5+ atoms. In the eighth O2- site, O2- is bonded in a linear geometry to two Nb5+ atoms. In the ninth O2- site, O2- is bonded in a linear geometry to two Nb5+ atoms. In the tenth O2- site, O2- is bonded in a linear geometry to two Nb5+ atoms. In the eleventh O2- site, O2- is bonded in a 3-coordinate geometry to three Nb5+ atoms. In the twelfth O2- site, O2- is bonded in a distorted tetrahedral geometry to four Nb5+ atoms. In the thirteenth O2- site, O2- is bonded in a 3-coordinate geometry to three Nb5+ atoms. In the fourteenth O2- site, O2- is bonded in a 3-coordinate geometry to three Nb5+ atoms. In the fifteenth O2- site, O2- is bonded in a 2-coordinate geometry to three Nb5+ atoms. In the sixteenth O2- site, O2- is bonded in a 2-coordinate geometry to three Nb5+ atoms. In the seventeenth O2- site, O2- is bonded in a water-like geometry to two Nb5+ atoms. In the eighteenth O2- site, O2- is bonded in a linear geometry to two Nb5+ atoms. In the nineteenth O2- site, O2- is bonded in a water-like geometry to two Nb5+ atoms. In the twentieth O2- site, O2- is bonded in a water-like geometry to two Nb5+ atoms. In the twenty-first O2- site, O2- is bonded in a linear geometry to two Nb5+ atoms. In the twenty-second O2- site, O2- is bonded in a linear geometry to two Nb5+ atoms. In the twenty-third O2- site, O2- is bonded in a 3-coordinate geometry to three Nb5+ atoms. In the twenty-fourth O2- site, O2- is bonded in a linear geometry to two Nb5+ atoms. In the twenty-fifth O2- site, O2- is bonded in a linear geometry to two equivalent Nb5+ atoms. In the twenty-sixth O2- site, O2- is bonded in a linear geometry to two equivalent Nb5+ atoms.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2024

Eliminating chemo-mechanical degradation of lithium solid-state battery cathodes during >4.5 V cycling using amorphous Nb2O5 coatings

Abstract Lithium solid-state batteries offer improved safety and energy density. However, the limited stability of solid electrolytes (SEs), as well as irreversible structural and chemical changes in the cathode active material, can result in inferior electrochemical performance, particularly during high-voltage cycling (>4.3 V vs Li/Li + ). Therefore, new materials and strategies are needed to stabilize the cathode/SE interface and preserve the cathode material structure during high-voltage cycling. Here, we introduce a thin (~5 nm) conformal coating of amorphous Nb 2 O 5 on single-crystal LiNi 0.5 Mn 0.3 Co 0.2 O 2 cathode particles using rotary-bed atomic layer deposition (ALD). Full cells with Li 4 Ti 5 O 12 anodes and Nb 2 O 5 -coated cathodes demonstrate a higher initial Coulombic efficiency of 91.6% ± 0.5% compared to 82.2% ± 0.3% for the uncoated samples, along with improved rate capability (10x higher accessible capacity at 2C rate) and remarkable capacity retention during extended cycling (99.4% after 500 cycles at 4.7 V vs Li/Li + ). These improvements are associated with reduced cell polarization and interfacial impedance for the coated samples. Post-cycling electron microscopy analysis reveals that the Nb 2 O 5 coating remains intact and prevents the formation of spinel and rock-salt phases, which eliminates intra-particle cracking of the single-crystal cathode material. These findings demonstrate a potential pathway towards stable and high-performance solid-state batteries during high-voltage operation.

Science & Technology - Other Topics↗
DOE OSTI2025

Comparison of Nb and Ta Pentoxide Loss Tangents for Superconducting Quantum Devices

Superconducting transmon qubits are commonly made with thin-film Nb wiring, but recent studies have shown increased performance with Ta wiring. In this work, we compare the resonator-induced single photon, millikelvin dielectric loss for pentoxides of Nb (Nb2O5) and Ta (Ta2O5) in order to further understand limiting losses in qubits. Nb and Ta pentoxides of three thicknesses are deposited via pulsed laser deposition onto identical coplanar waveguide resonators. The two-level system (TLS) loss in Nb2O5 is determined to be about 30% higher than that of Ta2O5. This work indicates that qubits with Nb wiring are affected by higher loss arising from the native pentoxide itself, likely in addition to the presence of suboxides, which are largely absent in Ta.

Goronzy, D. P. [Northwestern U.]↗
DOE OSTI2023

Fundamental Superconductivity of Nb films for Quantum Computing Application

Niobium is a widely accepted material for quantum computing device as well as superconducting radio frequency (SRF) technology. Superconducting niobium is a marginal type II superconductor which has a very narrow gap (~20-30 mT) of the mixed state at 2K, even showing the intermediate state (IMS) at the early stage of magnetic vortex penetration. Tremendous progress has been made in understanding the impact of the Nb surface and bulk superconductivities on SRF resonator performance. However, the effect of thin superconducting Nb films for quantum computing applications requires further examination. In this study, we explore the fundamental superconducting properties of various thin Nb films and compare them with respect to the energy relaxation time, T1, measured from superconducting qubit fabricated with these films. The Nb films are fabricated both with or without a surface protective layer that prevents the formation of lossy Nb2O5. Electromagnetic properties are characterized by means of bulk magnetization, electromagnetic transport, and dynamics of surface superconductivity. In addition, analytical electron microscopy is implemented to further connect the superconducting properties to microstructure.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2024

Oxide dissolution and oxygen diffusion scenarios in niobium and implications on the Bean–Livingston barrier in superconducting cavities

We generalize a native Nb2O5 dissolution model [G. Ciovati, Appl. Phys. Lett. 89, 022507 (2006)] to sequential overlayer dissolutions, multilayer dissolution, and realistic temperature profiles, which may be applicable to other materials. The model is applied to secondary ion mass spectrometry depth profile measurements for varying temperature profiles and two-step oxide dissolution in Nb and found to agree well. In the context of the Meissner screening response due to impurity profiles on the length scale of the London penetration depth, the shallow diffusion of O impurities results in a substantial decrease in the peak supercurrent density near the surface. In this framework, oxide dissolution and oxygen diffusion can account for a rise in peak supportable magnetic field in SRF cavities with baking time and a suppression after the optimal baking time is reached, in good agreement with peak-field baking temperatures and times as well as recent quench field measurements.

Lechner, Eric↗
DOE OSTI2024

Growth of Native Oxides of Niobium Thin Films

Both XPS and ToF-SIMS data and analysis suggest that Nb oxides grow rapidly and overwhelm Nb metal within the first 24 hours following a logarithmic growth. Nb2O5 growth is dominant out of all types of Nb oxide with reaching 80% At conc within 80 days. NbO2 is quickly saturated, maintaining 10% At conc over time with a logarithmic growth. NbO on the opposite follows an exponential decay. Oxide thickness growth also implies sample preparation techniques impact oxide saturation and growth rate.

Lei, Zhicheng↗
DOE OSTI2025

Chemical Analysis of Tantalum Thin Films compared to Niobium Thin Films using SIMS and XPS

Superconducting qubits are a leading platform for quantum computation. These circuits are typically made from superconducting materials like aluminum or niobium. However, the amorphous niobium oxide and aluminum oxide on the surface of these circuits introduce considerable RF loss due to the presence of two-level systems (TLS), which limits the maximum coherence times T1 to ~100 μs. Capping the niobium qubits with a tantalum layer leads to a 3- 5x improvement [Bal et al., 2024]. But even in this case, tantalum forms an amorphous surface oxide that introduces loss. In an effort to devise strategies to eliminate the presence of this oxide, we present a comprehensive study on the nature of Ta oxide using x-ray photoemission spectroscopy (XPS) and secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS) as a function of heat treatment. The thin films were annealed in ultra-high vacuum conditions and analyzed in situ to characterize the composition and evolution of the native tantalum oxide layer and oxide-metal interface. Our analysis reveals two critical differences between tantalum and niobium oxides: Nb2O5 completely dissolves at 400°C, while Ta2O5 persists even at 800°C. Additionally, tantalum oxide contains only a single suboxide (TaO), in contrast to niobium's two suboxides (NbO and NbO2). The suboxide of tantalum contributes minimally to the total oxide content and shows a relative increase with temperature. Understanding the oxide’s behavior will open new pathways for optimizing coherence times in tantalum qubits.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2025

Oxygen Vacancies in Niobium Pentoxide as a Source of Two-Level System Losses in Superconducting Niobium

We identify a major source of quantum decoherence in three-dimensional superconducting radio-frequency (SRF) resonators and two-dimensional transmon qubits composed of oxidized niobium: oxygen vacancies in the niobium pentoxide, which drive two-level system (TLS) losses. By probing the effect of sequential in situ vacuum-baking treatments on the rf performance of bulk Nb SRF resonators and on the oxide structure of a representative Nb sample using TOF SIMS, we find a nonmonotonic evolution of cavity quality factor Q0, which correlates with the interplay of Nb2O5 vacancy generation and oxide-thickness reduction. We localize this effect to the oxide itself and present the insignificant role of diffused interstitial oxygen in the underlying Nb by regrowing the oxide via wet oxidation, which reveals a mitigation of aggravated TLS losses. We hypothesize that such vacancies in the pentoxide serve as magnetic impurities and are a source of TLS-driven rf loss.

Bafia, Daniel P. [Fermilab]↗
DOE OSTI2026

Virtual Growth of SRF Materials

Niobium's native surface oxide affects SRF cavity and superconducting qubit performance, motivating interest in controlling its crystalline structure. We combine a literature-derived machine-learning analysis with temperature-dependent XRD to study crystalline ordering in Nb2O5. Random Forest models, trained on 74 processing conditions from 17 papers and validated by leave-one-group-out cross-validation, predicted broad crystallinity outcomes well (balanced accuracy 0.809), but struggled with specific polymorph identity (0.577). Annealing temperature was the dominant predictor across all targets; oxygen partial pressure showed negligible importance, reflecting narrow literature coverage rather than physical irrelevance. Temperature-dependent XRD on anodized and H2O2-treated Niobium showed structural evolution consistent with the machine learning predictions. Our model and overall approach provide a data-driven framework for identifying and optimizing conditions that promote crystallization in initially amorphous oxides. This framework can guide the selection of growth and post-annealing conditions for Nb surfaces by narrowing the experimental parameter space, thereby reducing trial-and-error efforts in developing oxide structures relevant to SRF applications.

Tilkin, Anthony [Fermilab]↗
DOE OSTI2026

Superconducting Material Growth for Radio-Frequency (RF) Cavities

Superconducting radio-frequency (SRF) cavities, usually manufactured from Niobium (Nb), are vital components of modern particle accelerators because of their ability to achieve high acceleration gradients with little power dissipation. Naturally forming Nb surface oxides significantly alter cavity performance by changing surface resistance. A nondestructive characterization of oxide thickness is helpful for relating surface processing treatments to cavity performance. This work develops a protocol to measure Nb oxide thickness using Angle-Resolved X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (ARXPS) while correcting instrumental errors. Using uniform bulk standard samples (Silver, Aluminum oxide, and Germanium), we determined a baseline correction factor to account for analyzer-related intensity evolution as the measurement angle increases. The correction factor was then applied to Nb 3d ARXPS data. Applying the Strohmeier equation to the corrected data yielded a Nb2O5 thickness of 6.04 nm, closely matching the 5.5 (±.05) nm value obtained from cross-sectional transmission electron microscopy. Our approach will bring a method to incorporate inherent errors in the thickness measurements using ARXPS and can be broadly applied to improve the accuracy of thickness measurements in a wide range of heterostructures.

Lambert, Nathan [Fermilab]↗
DOE OSTI2022

Synthesis and Ultrahigh Pressure Compression of High-Entropy Boride (Hf0.2Mo0.2Nb0.2Ta0.2Zr0.2)B2 to 220 GPa

The high-entropy boride (Hf0.2Mo0.2Nb0.2Ta0.2Zr0.2)B2 material was synthesized under high-pressures and high-temperatures in a large-volume Paris-Edinburgh (PE) press from a ball-milled powder mix of HfO2, MoO3, Nb2O5, Ta2O5, ZrO2, carbon black, and boron carbide. The transformation process was monitored in situ by energy-dispersive x-ray diffraction with conversion starting at 1100 °C and completed by 2000 °C with the formation of a single hexagonal AlB2-type phase. The synthesized sample was recovered, powdered, and mixed with platinum pressure marker and studied under high pressure by angle-dispersive x-ray diffraction in a diamond anvil cell. The hexagonal AlB2-type phase of (Hf0.2Mo0.2Nb0.2Ta0.2Zr0.2)B2 was found to be stable up to the highest pressure of 220 GPa reached in this study (volume compression V/V0 = 0.70). The third order Birch-Murnaghan equation of state fit to the high-pressure data up to 220 GPa results in an ambient pressure unit cell volume V0=28.16±0.04 Å3, bulk modulusKo = 407 ± 6 GPa, pressure derivative of bulk-modulus K0′ = 2.73 ± 0.045 GPa. Our study indicates that this high-entropy boride (Hf0.2Mo0.2Nb0.2Ta0.2Zr0.2)B2 material is stable to ultrahigh pressures and temperatures and exhibit high bulk modulus similar to other incompressible transition metal borides like ReB2 and Os2B3.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗