Superconducting properties of YaBa₂Cu₃O_7-delta films deposited on commercial tape substrates, decorated with Pd or Ta nano-islands

Journal Article · Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 2012 · Superconductor Science & Technology

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1088/0953-2048/25/2/025018· OSTI ID:1035829

Polat, Ozgur ^[1]; Ertugrul, Memhet ^[2]; Thompson, James R ^[1]; Leonard, Keith J ^[1]; Sinclair, IV, John W ^[1]; Paranthaman, Mariappan Parans ^[1]; Wee, Sung Hun ^[1]; Zuev, Yuri L ^[1]; Xiong, X. ^[3]; Selvamanickam, V. ^[3]; Christen, David K ^[1]; Aytug, Tolga ^[1]

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1. ORNL
2. Ataturk University
3. SuperPower Incorporated, Schenectady, New York

To obtain an engineered surface for deposition of high-Tc superconductors, nanoscale modulations of the surface of the underlying LaMnO3 (LMO) cap layer is a potential source for generating microstructural defects in YBa2Cu3O7- (YBCO) films. These defects may improve the flux-pinning and consequently increase the critical current density, Jc. To provide such nanoscale modulation via a practical and scalable process, tantalum (Ta) and palladium (Pd) nano-islands were deposited using dc-magnetron sputtering on the surface of the cap layer of commercial metal tape templates for second-generation wires. The size and density of these nano-islands can be controlled by changing sputtering conditions such as the power and deposition time. Compared to the reference sample grown on an untreated LMO cap layer, the YBCO films grown on the LMO cap layers with Ta or Pd nano-islands exhibited improved in-field Jc performance. Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) were used to assess the evolving size and density of the nano-islands.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Science (SC); OE USDOE - Office of Electric Transmission and Distribution
• DOE Contract Number: DE-AC05-00OR22725
• OSTI ID: 1035829
• Journal Information: Superconductor Science & Technology, Vol. 25, Issue 2; ISSN 0953-2048
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS
SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND SUPERFLUIDITY
ATOMIC FORCE MICROSCOPY
CRITICAL CURRENT
DEFECTS
DEPOSITION
HIGH-TC SUPERCONDUCTORS
MAGNETIC FLUX
MODULATION
PALLADIUM
PERFORMANCE
SPUTTERING
SUBSTRATES
TANTALUM
TRANSMISSION ELECTRON MICROSCOPY