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Demonstration of High Current Density YBCO Coated Conductors on RE2O3-Buffered Ni Substrates with Two New Alternative Architectures

Conference ·
OSTI ID:9402

In continuation of our effort to develop single buffer layer architectures for YBCO (YBa2Cu3O7-g) coated tape conductors, we have studied RE2O3 (RE = Y, and rare earths) as candidate materials. Three types of crystal structures including the preferred cubic phase are known for the rare earth oxides. High quality simple cubic RE2O3 buffer layers were grown epitaxiahy on {100}<001> textured Ni substrates using both reactive evaporation and sol-gel processing. Detailed X-ray studies have shown that the Y2O3, Eu2O3, Gd2O3, and Yb2O3 were grown with a single epitaxial orientation. SEM micrographs indicated that both e-beam and sol-gel grown films were dense, continuous and crack free. High Jc YBCO films were grown on RE2O3-buffered Ni substrates with sputtered cap layers. Two new alternative buffer layer architectures were developed. A high Jc of 1.8 MA/cm2 at 77 K and self-field was obtained on YBCO films with a layer sequence of YBCO (pulsed laser deposition)/Yb2O3 (sputtered)/Y2O3 (e-beam)/Ni. Also, a high Jc of over 1 MA/cm2 at 77 K and self-field was obtained on YBCO films with a layer sequence of YBCO (ex-situ BaF2 process)/CeO2 (sputtered)YSZ sputtered)/RE2O3 (sol-gel or e-beam)Ni. The performance of sol-gel grown buffers approached the quality of e-beam grown buffers.

Research Organization:
Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EE); USDOE Office of Power Technologies; USDOE Office of Science
DOE Contract Number:
AC05-96OR22464
OSTI ID:
9402
Report Number(s):
ORNL/CP-104004; KC 02 03 01 0; EB 50 01 00 0; ON: DE00009402
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English