OPTIMIZATION OF THE ELECTROPHORETIC DEPOSITION OF YBA2CU3O7-X SUPERCONDUCTING LARGE-AREA COATINGS

Large area coatings (>10 cm(2)) of the high temperature superconductor YBa2Cu3O7-x (x = 0.1 - 0.2) (YBCO) have been prepared by scale up an electrophoretic deposition technique using silver sheets and Si-wafers coated with Ag or Au as substrates. Several parameters, like the kind of the solvent, the applied voltage, the distance between the electro des, the initial concentration of the suspension and the temperature d uring the electrophoresis were investigated in order to attain high de position rates, as well as uniform YBCO coatings with the proper stoic hiometry. To obtain a strongly adherent and dense coating a subsequent appropriate sintering and annealing procedure has been developed. The coatings obtained were characterized for their stoichiometry and supe rconducting properties by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy and magnetic measurements. The homogeneity and thickness of the films and the average grain size of the deposited particles have been invest igated by optical and scanning electron microscopy (SEM).