Skip to main content
U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

In situ formation of YBa/sub 2/Cu/sub 3/O/sub x/ thin films by physical sputtering

Journal Article · · Appl. Phys. Lett.; (United States)
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.101560· OSTI ID:6480678

We have found that in situ superconducting Y-Ba-Cu-O thin films can be produced by sputtering without the aid of any external O/sub 2/ source during deposition. The films were produced by rf magnetron sputtering from a composite target onto MgO(100) substrates heated at 650 /sup 0/C. Films made in a pure Ar pressure of 24 mTorr and fast cooled in N/sub 2/ ambient contain the tetragonal YBa/sub 2/Cu/sub 3/O/sub x/ phase with x estimated to be 6.1. Films made under the same sputtering conditions but cooled in 30 mTorr oxygen after deposition, show a superconducting transition T/sub c/(R = 0) at 71 K with an onset at 85 K. The T/sub c/(R = 0) rises to 80 K if 0.5 mTorr oxygen was added during sputtering. The experimental results provide conclusive evidence that sufficient oxygen can be incorporated into the films to form the tetragonal YBa/sub 2/Cu/sub 3/O/sub x/ phase simply by physical sputtering from an oxide target. The films absorb additional oxygen and transform into the orthogonal, superconducting phase when subsequently cooled in partial O/sub 2/.

Research Organization:
ATandT Bell Laboratories, Murray Hill, New Jersey 07974
OSTI ID:
6480678
Journal Information:
Appl. Phys. Lett.; (United States), Journal Name: Appl. Phys. Lett.; (United States) Vol. 54:12; ISSN APPLA
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

Similar Records

In situ growth and flux pinning in Ag-doped YBa sub 2 Cu sub 3 O sub 7 minus y thin films
Journal Article · Sun Mar 31 23:00:00 EST 1991 · Physical Review, B: Condensed Matter; (USA) · OSTI ID:5622232

Superconducting YBa/sub 2/Cu/sub 3/O/sub 7-//sub x/ thin films on alkaline earth fluorides
Journal Article · Mon May 15 00:00:00 EDT 1989 · Appl. Phys. Lett.; (United States) · OSTI ID:6293804

Critical parameters in the single-target sputtering of YBa sub 2 Cu sub 3 O sub 7
Journal Article · Tue Oct 15 00:00:00 EDT 1991 · Journal of Applied Physics; (United States) · OSTI ID:5172333