Liquid phase epitaxial growth of bismuth based superconductors

Abstract

The liquid phase epitaxial growth of superconducting films of Bi 2Sr 2CaCu 2O y (2212 phase) and Bi 2Sr 2CuO z (2201 phase) were carried out on three types of substrates; SrTiO 3, LaAlO 3 and NdGaO 3. Twinning structures of the 2212 phase were observed in the films grown on the SrTiO 3 (100) and LaAlO 3 (100) substrates which belong to the cubic crystal system, while nearly twin-free structures were obtained when the film was grown on the NdGaO 3 (001) substrate (orthorhombic system). Atomic force microscopy revealed a 2201 phase film with a reasonably flat area (several μm 2) grown on the LaAlO 3 (100) substrate. It was observed that the 2212 phase nucleated on the substrate following the Volmer-Weber type mechanism (three-dimensional island growth mode). The enlarging processes of the island layers were discussed.