Reflection high-energy electron diffraction studies of epitaxial oxide seed-layer growth on rolling-assisted biaxially textured substrate Ni(001): The role of surface structure and chemistry

We present a study of the {100}< 100 > biaxially textured Ni(001) surface and seed-layer growth using in situ reflection high-energy electron diffraction and Auger electron spectroscopy. Our observations are consistent with formation of a c(2x2) two-dimensional superstructure due to the surface segregation of sulfur contained in the metal. We show that this superstructure can have a dramatic effect on the heteroepitaxial growth of oxide seed layers. In particular, the surface superstructure promotes the (200) epitaxial oxide growth of Y2O3-stabilized ZrO2, which is necessary for the development of high-J(c) superconducting films for coated conductors. (C) 2001 American Institute of Physics.