Au/YBa2Cu3O7-delta thin film composites on various substrates

We have grown a series of composite films of Au with YBa2Cu3O7-delta on various substrates using a bilayer deposition technique to study their suitability for flux flow applications. The T-c's and J(c)'s were measured, and results compared with plain YBCO films for the different substrates. The patterning process resulted in some damage to the composites, but an oxygen plasma treatment was effective in restoring T-c's and resistance ratios, J(c) measurements suggest that Au/YBCO composites behave like SNS-coupled arrays of superconducting grains. Their increased response to small magnetic fields is consistent with Josephson vortices dominating the transport. These findings indicate that Au/YBCO composites are a promising material for flux flow applications.