Biaxial texturing of Cu sheets and fabrication of ZrO2 buffer layer for YBCOHTS films

Cu sheets were selected as substrates for producing biaxially textured supe rconductor films. The biaxially textured pure Cu substrates with a thicknes s of 50 mu m were fabricated using rolling followed by recrystallization pr ocesses. The in-plane alignment and out-of-plane alignment of Cu substrates were analyzed as a function of annealing temperature using detailed X-ray diffraction (XRD) studies, and the best heat treatment condition for obtain ing the cube texture was identified. The copper oxide layers were formed us ing low temperature annealing in ambient pressure and characterized using X RD, SEM, Galvanostatic method, and AES. ZrO2 films were also deposited on t extured Ca substrates to prevent possible reaction between Cu sheets and YB CO superconductors. The ZrO2 films were sol-gel dip coated, and various hea t treatment conditions were applied. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rig hts reserved.