Self Assembled Monolayers SAMs cuts quantum circuit loss 80%
Monolayers self-assemble
Quantum Computing Innovation: Self-Assembled Monolayers Reduce Loss 80% and Maintain Coherence
Researchers improved superconducting quantum circuit stability and functionality by minimising native oxide buildup on aluminium and niobium surfaces. The use of molecular self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) to inhibit oxide regrowth, a common challenge in quantum hardware development, improves coherence and reduces energy loss. More durable, reliable, and scalable quantum computing devices are possible with these discoveries.
The vulnerability of superconducting quantum circuits to environmental factors, especially the growth of native oxide layers on metallic components like aluminium (Al) and niobium (Nb), has long hindered stable quantum coherence. These oxide layers are mostly responsible for two-level system (TLS) defects, which interact with electric fields, absorb microwave energy, and degrade computation-critical quantum states. TLS faults in amorphous materials, oxides, and superconductor interfaces cause unwanted relaxation and decoherence. Air connections cause over 80% of superconducting quantum device TLS losses.
Etching, encapsulation, plasma cleaning, and argon milling are traditional mitigating methods studied. TLS losses can be reduced by eliminating oxide, but halting their regrowth after ambient exposure is difficult. Oxide regrowth makes etch cleaning unsustainable. Encapsulation with more metal layers has been considered, but it has often been avoided due to concerns about producing new metal-superconductor interface defects.
Ultrathin magnesium (Mg) or ruthenium (Ru) capping films have been used to suppress tantalum (Ta) and niobium (Nb) oxide formation. Since uneven oxide development causes TLS vulnerabilities, boosting crystalline oxide production may help. Uncontrolled native oxide synthesis limits quantum gadget performance.
In response to this urgent challenge, recent studies have focused on molecular self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) as a unique and effective passivation approach. SAM-based coatings are noted for their great surface coverage, homogeneity, and stability. They have been extensively studied for changing semiconductor and metal corrosion resistance, work function, surface chemistry, and dielectric constant alteration. Their usage in quantum circuits is promising despite being new.
Submerging silicon substrates coated with Al or Nb in SAM solutions passivates newly manufactured Al and Nb thin films. The aluminium study used two types of SAMs: fluoro octyl triethoxy silane (PFOTS) and tetradecyl phosphonic acid (TDPA) because to their affinity for Al surfaces. Alkyl-phosphonate SAMs were successfully developed on thin films for niobium after oxide removal.
A variety of analytical approaches were utilised to validate SAM passivation for aluminium circuits:
XPS showed that SAMs bonded and aluminium oxide did not form. The surface oxide peak positions and intensity of SAM-treated samples were lower than untreated samples. SAMs inhibited water penetration and lowered oxide peak envelopes in treated samples by eliminating adsorbed water peaks. The oxide thickness of unmodified aluminium was reduced to 2.00 ± 0.30 nm for TDPA/Al and PFOTS/Al, based on XPS measurements. This shows that SAMs suppress oxide formation and mask the XPS signal. Stability After Ageing: After 15 days of ambient ageing, SAM-passivated aged samples showed only a modest rise in oxide thickness (0.30 nm for PFOTS and 0.23 nm for TDPA), demonstrating outstanding passivation stability. Unmodified aluminium, saturated with oxides, barely changed. The SAM's binding to the Al surface and its abrupt transition from hydrophilic to hydrophobic were confirmed by water contact angle measurements. PFOTS/Al and TDPA/Al films had contact angles of 119.6° and 124.7°, respectively, compared to 39.1° for unmodified Al films. Hydrophobicity prevents water penetration, reducing pollution and oxides. TDPA's longer 14-carbon hydrocarbon chain and phosphonic acid group's strong P–O–Al interactions helped it to achieve a higher contact angle and a denser, more ordered monolayer than PFOTS's 8-carbon fluorocarbon chain. X-ray EDS and SEM: These tests showed a significant drop in oxide content on treated surfaces and provided additional visual and elemental evidence that the SAM binds to the Al surface and reduces oxide formation. SAMs also work well in niobium-based superconducting circuits:
Researchers reduced loss at single-photon power levels in un-passivated resonators by over 80% using alkyl-phosphonate SAMs to limit oxide regrowth. SAM-passivated resonators maintained their circuitry after six days in air. Quality Improvements: SAMs consistently improved quality factors across resonators compared to oxide-etched ones. This was evident at millikelvin temperatures and single-photon excitation power. Using a two-component TLS model, researchers measured the unique TLS loss of SAMs, finding a precise value of around 5×10⁻⁷. This unknown value is crucial for circuit optimisation. Surface Characterisation: Ellipsometry confirmed a well-ordered molecular monolayer with a nanometre film thickness. Water contact angle measurements again showed a hydrophilic-to-hydrophilic surface transition, confirming monolayer formation and oxide regrowth resistance. These findings strongly suggest that SAM-based passivation can improve Al- and Nb-based superconducting quantum circuit performance and reduce microwave loss. To promote quantum coherence, SAMs use thin, stable organic molecules with known properties instead of native oxide development. Industrial-scale quantum circuit production is conceivable using SAM materials, especially in applications that need long-term device stability. This proposal solves a materials-based quantum hardware barrier, enabling large-scale, high-performance quantum computer systems.