Proximity effect in superconducting nanowires

We have fabricated Pb, Sn and multilayered Pb/Cu nanowires using electrodeposition in nanoporous template. Single wires 50 nm in diameter and 20 mu m long are contacted with either An or Pb (superconducting) films using a self-contacting technique. We have measured Pb and Sn wires with Pb contacts and careful filtering. The proximity effect is probe in this geometry with the Sn nanowire that becomes superconducting near the Pb critical temperature due to the Pb contacting layers. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.