Massive suppression of proximity pairing in topological (Bi${}_{1-x}$Sb${}_x{)}_2$Te${}_3$ films on niobium

Interfacing bulk conducting topological Bi${}_2$Se${}_3$ films with s-wave superconductors initiates strong superconducting order in the nontrivial surface states. However, bulk insulating topological (Bi${}_{1-x}$Sb${}_x{)}_2$Te${}_3$ films on bulk Nb instead exhibit a giant attenuation of surface superconductivity, even for films only two-layers thick. This massive suppression of proximity pairing is evidenced by ultrahigh-resolution band mappings and by contrasting quantified superconducting gaps with those of heavily n-doped topological Bi${}_2$Se${}_3$/Nb. The results underscore the limitations of using superconducting proximity effects to realize topological superconductivity in nearly intrinsic systems.