Pulsed-laser-deposited YBCO thin films using modified MTG processed targets

YBCO thin films were deposited by pulsed laser deposition from targets fabr icated using the modified melt-textured growth (MTG) method and the solid-s tate sintering (SSS) method. All of the films showed c-axis orientations, b ut the films from the MTG targets had better crystallinity than those from the SSS targets. As the substrate temperature was increased, T-c and J(c) o f the films increased. The films from the MTG targets showed better superco nducting properties than those from the SSS targets. From the composition a nalysis of the targets, the Y-richer vapor species arriving at the substrat e from the MTG targets are thought to form a thermodynamically more stable YBCO phase with less cation disorder.