Transport properties of nanoscale superconductors and topological insulators

Superconductors and topological insulators are important topics in condensed matter physics. In this paper we describe our recent experiments on the electronic transport properties of nanoscale super- conductors and topological insulators, including the proximity effect in metallic and ferromagnetic nanowires induced by superconducting electrodes, exotic superconductivity in semimetal nanowires, quantum transport in topological insulator thin films, and the interplay between superconducting and topological insulator surface states. Future research and potential applications in this field are discussed. (authors)