Development of buffer layer structures for YBa2Cu3O7-delta coated conductors on textured NI-V substrate

Y2O3 and MgO-based buffer layer architectures on non-magnetic cube textured Ni-V substrates were studied for YBa2Cu3O7-delta (YBCO) coated conductors fabrication using both pulsed laser deposition and electron beam evaporatio n The Y2O3 films exhibited a biaxial texture with phi and omega -scans full width at half maximum (FWHM) of about 11 degrees and 7 degrees and a smoot h and continuous surface. YBCO thick films deposited an CeO2/Y2O3/Ni-V and CeO2/Y2O3/NiO/Ni-V architectures were mainly c-axis oriented showing a T-C( R=0) above 85 K. MgO films were grown by electron beam evaporation both dir ectly on metallic substrates and with a Pd intermediate layer. The MgO film s grown on Ni-V substrates show a good texture and good surface morphologic al properties. The MgO deposition on Pd buffered Ni-V substrate leads to fi lms with better structural properties with respect to MgO depositon on bare Ni-V substrate, showing phi and omega -scans FWHM up to 8 degrees and 5 de grees, respectively. In spite of the interdiffusion between Pd buffer layer and Ni-V substrate, the MgO films preserve their structural and morphologi cal properties when annealed at typical YBCO deposition temperature.