Patent ID: 8812068

Claim:
A method of forming a delta niobium nitride (δ-NbN) layer on a surface of a niobium object including: a) cleaning said surface of said niobium object; b) providing a treatment chamber; c) placing said niobium object in said treatment chamber; d) evacuating said chamber wherein oxygen and air are removed from said treatment chamber; e) passing nitrogen gas into said treatment chamber at a pressure of at least 450 Torr; f) focusing a laser spot on said niobium object; g) delivering laser fluences at said laser spot in the range of 2.5 J/cm 2 to 6.0 J/cm 2 until said surface of said niobium object reaches above its boiling temperature; and h) moving the laser spot over said surface of said niobium object until said surface has been reacted with said nitrogen gas to form a delta niobium nitride (δ-NbN) layer on said surface.