PREPARATION OF HIGH-QUALITY YBA2CU3O7-DELTA THICK-FILMS ON FLEXIBLE NI-BASED ALLOY SUBSTRATES WITH TEXTURED BUFFER LAYERS

High current YBa2Cu3O7-delta (YBCO) thick films on flexible nickel sub strates with textured buffer layers were fabricated. Highly textured y ttria-stabilized-zirconia (YSZ) buffer layers were deposited by using ion beam assisted deposition (IBAD). Pulsed laser deposited YBCO films were not only c-axis oriented with respect to the film surface but al so strongly in-plane textured. The in-plane mosaic spread of YBCO film s was similar to 10 degrees. A critical current density of 8x10(5) A/c m(2) was obtained at 75 K and zero field for thin YBCO films. It was a lso demonstrated that thick YBCO films with a high critical current an d excellent magnetic field dependence at liquid nitrogen temperature c an be obtained on flexible nickel substrates by using the textured buf fer layers. Issues encountered in producing the films were discussed.