Preparation of Superconducting Bi-Sr-Ca-Cu-O Films with Preferred Orientation through a Metal Alkoxide Route

Abstract
Superconducting Bi-Sr-Ca-Cu-O films were prepared through a metal alkoxide route. The superconducting thin films composed of high T c and low T c phases with (00l) preferred orientation were successfully prepared at 850°C for 30 min on MgO(100) single-crystal substrates by a dip-coating method using partially hydrolyzed metal alkoxide solutions with 2-dimethylaminoethanol. The high T c Bi2Sr2Ca2Cu3O x phase was found to form from the Bi2Sr2CuO x phase through the low T c Bi2Sr2CaCu2O x phase in the Bi-Sr-Ca-Cu-O system. The preferentially orientated thin films prepared at 850°C exhibited the superconducting transition with an onset of 114 K and an offset of 65 K.