High critical current density YBa2Cu3Ox tapes using the RABiTs approach

Progress in the fabrication of epitaxial, high-J(c), biaxially aligned YBCO thick films on Rolling-assisted biaxially textured substrates (RABiTs) is reported. RABiT substrates comprise a biaxially textured metal substrate with epitaxial oxide buffer layers suitable for growth of superconductors. Oxide buffer layers have been deposited using three techniques: laser ablation, electron-beam evaporation, and sputtering. Epitaxial YBCO films grown using laser ablation on such substrates have critical current densities approaching 3 x 10(6) A/cm(2) at 77 K in zero field and have field dependences similar to epitaxial films on single crystal ceramic substrates. Critical current densities in excess of 0.2 MA/cm(2) have been obtained on stronger, nonmagnetic substrates. In addition, samples with J(e) of 12.5 kA/cm(2) at 77 K have been fabricated. The highest strain tolerence obtained so far is 0.7% in compression and 0.25% in tension. Deposited conductors made using this technique offer a potential route for the fabrication of long lengths of high-J(c) wire capable of carrying high currents in high magnetic fields and at elevated temperatures.