Growth of epitaxial Y2O3 buffer layers on biaxially textured Ni-W substrates for YBCO coated conductors by MOD approach

We have grown epitaxial Y2O3 buffer layers on biaxially textured Ni-W substrates for YBCO coated conductors using a newly developed metal organic decomposition (MOD) approach. Y2O3 precursor solution of 0.25 M concentration was spin coated on short samples of Ni-3 at.% W (Ni-W) substrates and heat-treated at 1150 degrees C in a gas mixture of Ar-4% H-2 for an hour. Detailed X-ray studies indicate that Y2O3 films have good out-of-plane and in-plane textures with full-width-half-maximum values of 6.22 degrees and 7.51 degrees, respectively. SEM and AFM investigations of Y2O3 films reveal a fairly dense and smooth microstructure without cracks and porosity. Highly textured YSZ barrier layers and CeO2 cap layers were deposited on MOD Y2O3-buffered Ni-W substrates using rf-magnetron sputtering. Pulsed laser deposition was used to grow YBCO films on these substrates. A critical current, J(c), of about 1.21 MA/cm(2) at 77 K and self-field was obtained on YBCO (PLD)/CeO2 (sputtered)/YSZ (sputtered)/Y2O3 (spin-coated)/Ni-W. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.