{
  "abstract": "Dielectric losses at surfaces and interfaces remains a primary limitation to coherence in superconducting transmon qubits. Niobium (Nb), a widely used material in superconducting quantum circuits, readily forms native oxides under ambient conditions, leading to lossy dielectric interfaces that degrade device performance. Here, we demonstrate a novel fabrication strategy that chemically transforms the native dielectric oxide on Nb into a metallic Pt--Nb surface alloy through post-oxidation Pt deposition followed by thermal annealing, thereby stabilizing Nb surfaces against further oxidation, potentially including sidewall regions. High-purity Nb films were fabricated with bulk-like superconducting transition temperatures ($T_c = 9.30\\pm0.10$~K). Spectroscopic and microscopic analyses confirm the conversion of the native oxide into a chemically stable, metallic alloy-dominated layer that suppresses subsequent oxide growth. Ab initio simulations elucidate the atomic-scale rearrangement and electronic structure evolution associated with Pt incorporation into native niobium oxide, providing insight into the mechanism underlying the oxide-to-metal transformation and stabilization of the alloyed surface.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [],
  "article_type": null,
  "arxiv": "2607.00429",
  "author_total": 13,
  "authors": [
    {
      "name": "Ananya Chattaraj"
    },
    {
      "name": "Conan Weiland"
    },
    {
      "name": "Bruce Ravel"
    },
    {
      "name": "Kim Kisslinger"
    },
    {
      "name": "Sooyeon Hwang"
    },
    {
      "name": "Xiao Tong"
    },
    {
      "name": "Ajith Pattammattel"
    },
    {
      "name": "Andrew M. Kiss"
    },
    {
      "name": "Steven L. Hulbert"
    },
    {
      "name": "Aswin kumar Anbalagan"
    },
    {
      "name": "Andrew L. Walter"
    },
    {
      "name": "Peter V. Sushko"
    },
    {
      "name": "Mingzhao Liu"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/1e60kgx4ea1m2.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.48550/arxiv.2607.00429",
  "fulltext_url": null,
  "id": "1e60kgx4ea1m2",
  "issns": [],
  "landing_url": "https://arxiv.org/abs/2607.00429",
  "language": null,
  "licence": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "licence_label": "CC BY 4.0",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": "CC0-1.0",
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "arxiv",
      "cond-mat.supr-con"
    ],
    [
      "openalex",
      "1702|Quantum Information and Cryptography"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7167101665",
  "pdf_url": "https://arxiv.org/pdf/2607.00429",
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-10-08",
  "publisher": null,
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/1e60kgx4ea1m2.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:27:53Z",
      "native_id": "2607.00429",
      "source": "arxiv",
      "url": "https://arxiv.org/abs/2607.00429"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "physics",
      "origin": "arxiv:cond-mat.supr-con",
      "subfield": "condensed-matter"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Transforming Native Oxide into a Metallic Platinum--Niobium Alloy for Passivation of Superconducting Niobium Films",
  "title_text": "Transforming Native Oxide into a Metallic Platinum--Niobium Alloy for Passivation of Superconducting Niobium Films",
  "type": "preprint",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:27:53Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/1e60kgx4ea1m2",
  "venue": "arXiv",
  "versions": []
}