Silver buffer layers for YBCO thin films

A simple economical conventional vacuum system was used for evaporation of YBCO thin films on as-deposited unbuffered Ag layers on MgO substrates. The subsequent heat treatment was carried out in low oxygen partial pressure a t a relative low temperature and short dwelling time. The films thus obtain ed were characterized for electrical properties using de four-probe electri cal measurements and inspected for structural properties and chemical compo sition by scanning electron microscopy (SEM).