Continuous YBa2Cu3O7-tape deposition by thermal evaporation

Ni and Ni-alloy rolling assisted biaxially textured substrates provided both from IFW Dresden and an industrial partner (Plansee GmbH) were employed for the deposition of YBCO-coated conductors by thermal evaporation. The main advantages of this process are high volume deposition rates and relatively low substrate temperatures Of 680 degreesC. As a consequence. a simple, economic, and very thin 100 nm CeO2 buffer layer has turned Out to be sufficient for high quality YBCO growth, For samples up to 20 cm long, critical current densities of 1 2 MA/cm(2) were achieved at 77 K and 2 mum thick films sustained transport currents beyond 150 A. Recently, the first continuously Operating prototype tape deposition system based on thermal evaporation has been put into operation, A reel-to-reel tape winding mechanism is capable of handling YBCO and buffer layer deposition on tape 10 mm wide and up to 100 m long has been implemented. The YBCO-deposition speed of 4 m/h for a 1 mum layer, (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.