Structure, texture, and properties of superconductive electrolytic niobium coatings on nickel and copper substrates

Abstract

Structure, texture, chemical purity, and other characteristics of superconductive niobium coatings prepared via electrochemical deposition onto nickel and copper substrates in (LiF + NaF + KF)eut + 5 wt % K2NbF7 molten salt are studied. It is shown that, when depositing the coatings onto nickel, the intermediate layer of Ni3Nb and NiNb intermetallides is formed at the substrate-coating interface, which inhibits the diffusion of nickel in niobium. The nickel concentration in niobium coatings above this layer is (2–7) × 10−2 wt %. In coatings deposited onto the copper substrate the copper content does not exceed 1.5 × 10−4 wt %, and from the viewpoint of the amount of impurities, niobium is considered as a high purity metal. The dynamics of structure modifications in niobium coatings and changes in microdeformations and dislocation density in the deposited metal are explored depending on the current density at the cathode.