Electrodeposited films of YBa 2Cu 3O 7−x on Ag and on SrTiO 3: a comparison

Abstract

Thick films (∼ 30μ) of YBa 2Cu 3O 7−x (YBCO) have been obtained through cationic electrodeposition on silver and on reduced SrTiO 3, so as to make it conducting and eliminate the need for a conducting buffer layer (Spanish patent P9802655). The superconducting films morphology is, in both cases, of a columnar type, as shown by SEM, leaving some empty spaces in between the columns. These spaces can be diminished, when silver is used as a substrate, by a multiple sequential electrodeposition. Although the films are then not continuous, critical temperatures are as high as usual (∼ 92 K) and critical currents (as determined by the Bean method) are, in A/cm 2, respectively 9 500 for YBCO/Ag and 3 250 for YBCO/SrTiO 3.