2017/08/28 by Daikang Yan, Ralu Divan, Lisa Gades +25
Chemistry · Materials Science · Physics and Astronomy · #Advanced Thermoelectric Materials and Devices #Analytical Chemistry (journal) #Bismuth #Chemistry #Electroplating #Layer (electronics) #Materials science #Metallurgy #Nanotechnology #Optics #Optoelectronics #Physics #Physics of Superconductivity and Magnetism #Spectral line #Superconducting and THz Device Technology #physics.ins-det
paper · pdf · doi:10.1063/1.5001198
published as Appl. Phys. Lett. 111, 192602 (2017)
arxiv created 2017/08/28 · openalex publication_date 2017/11/06 · arxiv updated 2017/11/10 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/05
Transition-edge sensors (TESs) as microcalorimeters for high-energy-resolution X-ray spectroscopy are often fabricated with an absorber made of materials with high Z (for X-ray stopping power) and low heat capacity (for high resolving power). Bismuth represents one of the most compelling options. TESs with evaporated bismuth absorbers have shown spectra with undesirable and unexplained low-energy tails. We have developed TESs with electroplated bismuth absorbers over a gold layer that are not afflicted by this problem and that retain the other positive aspects of this material. To better understand these phenomena, we have studied a series of TESs with gold, gold/evaporated bismuth, and gold/electroplated bismuth absorbers, fabricated on the same die with identical thermal coupling. We show that the bismuth morphology is linked to the spectral response of X-ray TES microcalorimeters.