Proximity-induced superconductivity in bismuth nanostripes

We show here that superconductivity can be induced in bismuth nanostripes through electrical contact with an s -wave superconductor. By studying the electrical transport properties of devices containing a bismuth nanostripe with superconducting contacts, we have found that bismuth nanostripes with inner probe distance shorter than 125 nm become superconductor at temperatures above 2 K due to proximity-induced superconductivity. This finding, along with previously demonstrated large spin–orbit coupling in bismuth, opens the way to the design of bismuth-based nanostructures bearing Majorana bound states. (letter)