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Sputtered superconducting films of Bi sub 2 Sr sub 2 CaCu sub 2 O sub x made by low-temperature, in-situ growth

Conference ·
OSTI ID:6965194

Composite target rf magnetron sputtering has previously been successfully employed to make superconducting films of YBa{sub 2}Cu{sub 3}O{sub 7{minus}x} in-situ at substrate temperatures T{sub s} < 700{degree}C. We report the successful growth of superconducting films of Bi{sub 2}Sr{sub 2}CaCu{sub 2}O{sub x} on single crystal MgO substrates by a low-temperature process using dc magnetron sputtering from a Bi-enriched composite target. Using a substrate temperature T{sub s} {approx} 645{degree}C, metallic films with a superconducting onset of 90--100K and an extrapolated T{sub c0} = 56K have been obtained. X-ray diffraction shows the films to be c-axis oriented. Electron microscopy reveals that the films are not significantly smoother than films which were post-annealed at 865{degree}C, and that some segregation into nonsuperconducting phases had occurred. The exact mechanism by which crystallization and superconductivity occurs at such low temperatures is not yet known, but it can be speculated that the surface atoms are less constrained and thus have a smaller energy barrier to overcome in forming a crystal structure. 9 refs., 4 figs., 1 tab.

Research Organization:
Argonne National Lab., IL (USA)
Sponsoring Organization:
DOE/CE; DOE/ER
DOE Contract Number:
W-31109-ENG-38
OSTI ID:
6965194
Report Number(s):
CONF-891093-28; ON: DE90010092
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English