Low-Fluorine Ba-Deficient Solutions for High-Performance Superconducting YBCO Films

Pau Ternero,Narcis Mestres,Giovanni Sotgiu,Laura Piperno,Anna Palau,Jordi Alcalà,Giuseppe Celentano,Cornelia Pop,Xavier Obradors,Teresa Puig,Susagna Ricart

doi:10.3390/coatings11020199

Pau Ternero, Narcis Mestres + Show 9 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings11020199

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Abstract

High-performing superconducting YBa2Cu3O7–x (YBCO) films are fabricated by a chemical solution deposition methodology through novel barium-deficient low-fluorine solutions. The precursor solutions, distinguished for being straightforward, inexpensive and eco-friendly, allow us to reduce the growing temperature of YBCO down to 750 °C. We investigated the influence of the growing temperatures on both the microstructure and superconducting properties of YBCO films by using conventional thermal annealing and flash-heating approaches. A clear correlation between the growing temperature (Tg) and the superconducting performance of the films was obtained with improved performances observed at low Tg.

Highlights

Cuprates, and rare-earth cuprates, constitute a class of deeply investigated functional oxides since they were found to be high-temperature superconductors (HTSs) [1]
The most widely employed methodology among chemical solution deposition (CSD) growth routes of YBa2 Cu3 O7−x (YBCO) is metal-organic decomposition (MOD) [11], in which the organic matrix that surrounds the metal ions is removed by thermal decomposition
Regarding the samples grown with the conventional thermal annealing (CTA) method, no ab grains are present in the working temperature range (730–810 ◦ C)

Summary

Introduction

Rare-earth cuprates, constitute a class of deeply investigated functional oxides since they were found to be high-temperature superconductors (HTSs) [1]. Vacuum methods comprise the most widely studied techniques like pulsed laser deposition (PLD) [4], physical vapor deposition (PVD) [5] and metal-organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) [6,7]. They require ultra-high vacuum systems, which raise the production costs and cause difficulties in scaling up the length of the process. The recent progress made on CSD YBCO growth and the feasibility of adapting this approach to large scale production processes has led this process to be considered as a low-cost, reliable and long-lasting coated conductor fabrication technique. The most widely employed methodology among CSD growth routes of YBCO is metal-organic decomposition (MOD) [11], in which the organic matrix that surrounds the metal ions is removed by thermal decomposition

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Conclusion