Effect of thickness on the magnetic properties of melt-processed YBCO thick films

The magnetic properties of melt-processed YBa2Cu3O7-δ thick films have been measured and correlated with features in the microstructure at 4.2 and 77 K for film thicknesses between 50 and 140 μm. A qualitative model for the volume magnetization of the films at 4.2 K is proposed in terms of the individual contributions from intra H-S grain, inter H-S grain and granular Jc components.

Effect of humidity on microstructure and properties of YBCO film prepared by TFA-MOD method

Epitaxial YBCO superconducting films were deposited on the single crystal LaAlO3 (001) substrate by metal organic deposition method. All YBCO films were fired at 820 degrees C in humidity range of 2.6%-19.7% atmosphere. Microstructure of YBCO thin films was analyzed by means of X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Superconducting properties of YBCO films were measured by four-probe method. XRD results showed that the second phase (such as BaF2)and a-axis-oriented grains existed in the films prepared at 2.6% humidity condition; a-axis-oriented grains increased in the film prepared at higher than 4.2% humidity condition; almost pure c-axias-oriented grains existed in the films fired at 4.2% humidity condition. Morphologies of the YBCO films showed that all films had a smooth and crack-free surface. YBCO film prepared at 4.2% humidity condition showed J(c) value of 3.3 MA/cm(2) at 77 K in self-field.