Formation of YBa2Cu3O7-delta superconducting films by electrodeposition

Superconducting thick films of Y-Ba-Cu O have been prepared via an electrod eposition procedure of the constituent metals on metallic substrates (Cu, A g) followed by an oxidative thermal treatment. The films were electrodeposi ted at a constant potential of - 3.5 V (vs. Ag/AgCl) from a single electrol yte bath, which contains the nitrates of the cations in dimethyl sulfoxide. The initial state of the precursor film and the formation process of the f inal superconducting film have been followed by IR spectroscopy, thermograv imetric analysis, X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. In th e precursor film, yttrium and copper are present as metals while barium for ms a carbonate. Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) is not inert under the experiment al conditions and oxidises to the sulfone, The superconducting transition t emperature (T-c) of the final film was approximate to 92 K and the critical current density (J(c))values were approximate to 9500 A cm(-2) at 77 K and zero field, the highest so far obtained by electrodeposition.