Synthesis of (BiPb)2Sr2Ca2Cu3O10 superconducting thin films on MgO using a multilayered pulsed laser deposition method

Abstract

Superconducting thin films of Pb-doped BiSrCaCuO have been prepared on (001) orientation MgO substrates by a multilayer pulse laser deposition technique using both BiPbSrCaCuO and PbO targets. The PbO target was used to dope Pb into the films in sufficient quantity to facilitate the growth of the 2223 phase. The effect of post-annealing temperature and time duration on the formation of this phase is described. Using x-ray diffraction and resistivity measurements we have found that a near optimum single phase 2223 film can be grown by post-annealing the sample at 854 °C for 15 h in air. The films grown are highly c-axis oriented and exhibit Tc(zero) as high as 105.5 K.