Superconducting Bi(2223) films (T-C(0)=110 K) by dip-coating on Ba2LaZrO5.5: a newly developed perovskite ceramic substrate

Ba2LaZrO5.5 has been developed as a new ceramic substrate suitable for Bi(2 223) superconductor films. Ba2LaZrO5.5 has a complex cubic perovskite (A(2) BB'O-6) structure with a lattice constant a = 8.395 Angstrom. The dielectri c constant and loss factor of Ba2LaZrO5.5, are in a range suitable for its use as a substrate material for microwave applications. Bi(2223) supercondu ctor does not show any detectable chemical reaction with Ba2LaZrO5.5 even u nder extreme processing conditions. The thick films of Bi(2223) dip-coated on polycrystalline Ba2LaZrO5.5 substrate gave a T-C(0) of 110 K and a curre nt density of similar to 4 X 10(3) A/cm(2) at 77 K and zero magnetic field. The Bi(2223) films exhibited excellent adhesion to Ba2LaZrO5.5. Dip coatin g was found to be one of the easiest methods for obtaining superconducting Bi(2223) thick film of thickness as low as similar to 4 mu m. (C) 1999 Else vier Science B.V. All rights reserved.