Niobium Nitride (NbN)
=====================


       
      

**Superconducting Materials**

 

High-Tc Nitride for Photon Detection & Qubits

**Tc = 16 K (bulk); ~10 K thin film**

Niobium Nitride (NbN)
---------------------

High-Tc Nitride for Photon Detection & Qubits

 **Role in quantum circuits** 

Superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors (SNSPDs), resonators, qubit circuits

 **Why it matters** 

NbN has the highest Tc among common superconducting nitrides and is prized for
            single-photon detection at near-infrared wavelengths. Its large superconducting gap
            makes it resistant to quasiparticle poisoning — a key decoherence mechanism in qubit
            circuits used in quantum networking nodes.

 **Key facts** 
* Highest Tc among common nitrides — operable at 4 K with standard cryostats
* Used in SNSPDs for quantum communication & networking links
* Large superconducting gap reduces quasiparticle poisoning
* Deposited by reactive magnetron sputtering on MgO or sapphire
* Integrated into quantum networking nodes alongside transmon qubits