Pulsed laser deposition of YBCO films on ISD MgO buffered metal tapes

• Published in: Superconductor science & technology 2003-04, Vol.16 (4), p.464-472
• Main Authors: Ma, B, Li, M, Koritala, R E, Fisher, B L, Markowitz, A R, Erck, R A, Baurceanu, R, Dorris, S E, Miller, D J, Balachandran, U
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 0953-2048; 1361-6668
• DOI: 10.1088/0953-2048/16/4/308

Biaxially textured magnesium oxide (MgO) films deposited by inclined-substrate deposition (ISD) are desirable for rapid production of high-quality template layers for YBCO-coated conductors. High-quality YBCO films were grown on ISD MgO buffered metallic substrates by pulsed laser deposition (PLD). Columnar grains with a roof-tile surface structure were observed in the ISD MgO films. X-ray pole figure analysis revealed that the (002) planes of the ISD MgO films are tilted at an angle from the substrate normal. A small full-width at half maximum (FWHM) of #~9DG was observed in the *q-scan for ISD MgO films deposited at an inclination angle of 55DG. In-plane texture in the ISD MgO films developed in the first #~0.5 *mm from the substrate surface, and then stabilized with further increases in film thickness. Yttria-stabilized zirconia and ceria buffer layers were deposited on the ISD MgO grown on metallic substrates prior to the deposition of YBCO by PLD. YBCO films with the c-axis parallel to the substrate normal have a unique orientation relationship with the ISD MgO films. An orientation relationship of YBCO < 100 > BB MgO < 111 > and YBCO < 010 > BB MgO < 110 > was measured by x-ray pole figure analyses and confirmed by transmission electron microscopy. A Tc of 91 K with a sharp transition and transport Tc of 5.5 x 105 A cm-2 at 77 K in self-field were measured on a YBCO film that was 0.46 *mm thick, 4 mm wide and 10 mm long.