Thin-film synthesis of the high-Tc oxide superconductor YBa2Cu3O7 by electron-beam codeposition

Abstract
The successful synthesis of high-Tc YBa2Cu3O7 films by means of electron-beam codeposition are reported. Several important growth parameters have been surveyed in a preliminary way. The substrates investigated include Al2O3, ZrO2, MgO, and SrTiO3, The films were characterized by resistivity measurements, x-ray diffraction, microprobe, and Rutherford backscattering analysis. Some TEM and critical current density studies were also carried out. The best results to date have been obtained on SrTiO3 substrates with which polycrystalline epitaxial growth has been achieved. Resistive superconducting transitions with zero resistance at 89.5 K and a 2 K width have been observed in these films.