Growth of RE123 films from NiO-saturated solution by liquid phase epitaxy

Abstract

We tried to apply NiO as a buffer layer to liquid phase epitaxy coated conductors on the Ni substrate. The NiO addition to the solution decreased the peritectic temperature of the Y123 and increased the crystallization temperature of the Ba–Cu–Ni–O compound. This makes it difficult to grow the Y123 single phase from the NiO-saturated solution. Instead of Y123, we selected Sm123 or Nd123 that has a higher peritectic temperature than Y123, and confirmed that Sm123 or Nd123 could be grown stably from the NiO-saturated solution. Because of its low T c value of Sm123 or Nd123 grown from the NiO-saturated solution, the (Y,Yb)123 layer should be epitaxially grown as the superconductive layer on it. Finally we succeeded in growing a Sm123 layer on a Ni substrate from the NiO-saturated solution, and confirmed the structure of NiO buffered system.