Evidence of Josephson Coupling in a Few-Layer Black Phosphorus Planar Josephson Junction

ACS Nano. 2022 Mar 22;16(3):3538-3545. doi: 10.1021/acsnano.1c09315. Epub 2022 Jan 31.

Abstract

Setting up strong Josephson coupling in van der Waals materials in close proximity to superconductors offers several opportunities both to inspect fundamental physics and to develop cryogenic quantum technologies. Here we show evidence of Josephson coupling in a planar few-layer black phosphorus junction. The planar geometry allows us to probe the junction behavior by means of external gates, at different carrier concentrations. Clear signatures of Josephson coupling are demonstrated by measuring supercurrent flow through the junction at milli-Kelvin temperatures. Manifestation of a Fraunhofer pattern with a transverse magnetic field is also reported, confirming the Josephson coupling. These findings represent evidence of proximity Josephson coupling in a planar junction based on a van der Waals material beyond graphene and will expedite further studies, exploiting the peculiar properties of exfoliated black phosphorus thin flakes.

Keywords: Josephson junctions; black phosphorus; planar geometry; quantum devices; van der Waals materials.