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

Passivation of superconducting YBa sub 2 Cu sub 3 O sub 7 minus x thin films by a wet fluoride vapor method

Journal Article · · Journal of Applied Physics; (USA)
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.345507· OSTI ID:7247002
;  [1]
  1. State University of New York at Buffalo, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Institute on Superconductivity, Bonner Hall, Amherst, New York 14260 (US)

Wet hydrofluoric acid (HF) vapor was used to treat YBa{sub 2}Cu{sub 3}O{sub 7{minus}{ital x}} superconducting thin films in order to realize highly controllable passivation layers on the film surface. Improved resistance to degradation by water of the films was realized by using this novel technique. {ital In} {ital situ} measurement of the resistance of the thin films, with and without wet HF vapor treatment, showed completely different behavior during deionized water immersion. Both Auger electron spectroscopy surface scanning and depth profile demonstrated the incorporation of fluorine in the surface after wet HF vapor treatment. The formation of an amorphous layer on the film surface, which was the reaction product between HF and erosion materials on the film surface, might be directly related to the improved water resistance of the superconducting YBa{sub 2}Cu{sub 3}O{sub 7{minus}{ital x}} thin films.

OSTI ID:
7247002
Journal Information:
Journal of Applied Physics; (USA), Journal Name: Journal of Applied Physics; (USA) Vol. 67:5; ISSN 0021-8979; ISSN JAPIA
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English