Grain Boundary Engineering Effect on Vortex Matter in Superconducting Films

Abstract

Grain boundaries (GBs) in polycrystalline superconducting films act as a double-edged sword: they can pin vortices or degrade superconductivity through Josephson-like weak-link coupling. Here, we demonstrate that sputtering pressure tunes GB coupling in NbTiN films and visualize its consequences for vortex matter. The 5 mTorr film exhibits dispersed grain orientations and a two-step resistive transition under field, signaling intergranular weak-link behavior. In contrast, the 7 mTorr film develops a (111) texture, a single-step transition, higher critical current density, a second magnetization peak, and a δl-type pinning response consistent with improved GB coupling. Cryogenic magnetic force microscopy reveals a spatially heterogeneous, cluster-like vortex configuration in the 5 mTorr film, whereas the 7 mTorr film hosts a more uniform distribution with enhanced local order. These results establish a connection between deposition-controlled GB connectivity, macroscopic weak-link transport, and microscopic vortex organization, providing a practical route to tailor vortex pinning in polycrystalline superconducting films.