Deposition of c-oriented borocarbide thin films by laser ablation technique

Despite of the long period of time elapsed since their discovery, intermeta llic superconducting borocarbides in the form of thin films are rarely repo rted in the literature. In this paper we present our results on the growth of ErNi2B2C thin films by an ultra high vacuum laser ablation technique. Th e dependence of the film structure and properties on the deposition paramet ers has been studied and optimized. Strongly c-oriented superconducting fil ms (rocking angle of 1 degrees) with a rather smooth surface have been obta ined. Here we present the details of the deposition procedure as well as th ose of the structural, morphological, and electrical characterization. The feasibility of superconducting films with a tungsten buffer layer on MgO su bstrate has been studied successfully. Both buffer layers and bilayers have been characterized by X-ray reflectivity and Atomic Force Microscopy.