Novel ceramic substrates for high Tc superconductors

Abstract

A group of complex perovskite oxides REBa2NbO6 (RE=La and Dy) have been synthesized and developed for their use as substrates for both YBa2Cu3O7-δ and Bi(2223) superconductors. These materials have a complex cubic perovskite (A2BB′O6) structure with lattice constants,a=8·48−8·60 Å. REBa2NbO6 did not show any phase transition in the temperature range 30–1300°C. The thermal expansion coefficient, thermal diffusivity and thermal conductivity values of REBa2NbO6 are favourable for their use as substrates for highT c superconductors. The dielectric constant and loss factor of REBa2NbO6 are in a range suitable for their use as substrates for microwave applications. Both YBa2Cu3O7-δ and Bi(2223) superconductors did not show any detectable chemical reaction with REBa2NbO6 even under extreme processing conditions. Dip coated YBa2Cu3O7-δ thick films on polycrystalline REBa2NbO6 substrate gave aT c(0) of 92 K and a current density of ∼1·1×104 A/cm2 and Bi(2223) thick film on polycrystalline REBa2NbO6 substrate gave aT c(0) of 110 K and a current density of ∼ 4×103 A/cm2 at 77 K and zero magnetic field. A laser ablated YBa2Cu3O7-δ thin film deposited on polycrystalline REBa2NbO6 substrate gave aT c(0) of 90 K and a current density of ∼5×105 A/cm2.