Electron doped superconducting cuprates for photon detectors

The study of unconventional materials with peculiar properties is a fundamental step for the design and advancement of superconducting photon detectors. Nd2-xCexCuO4±? is a non-traditional cuprate superconductor exhibiting n-type conduction which properties can be changed by modifying its cerium and oxygen content. Ultra-thin films of this compound have been deposited by dc sputtering technique, and systematically characterized by using X-ray diffraction and electrical measurements. Design and patterning of sample geometries have been performed by optical and electron beam lithography in order to obtain sub-micron wide strips for measurements of photon detection.