Superconducting properties and surface morphology of SmBa2Cu3O6+delta thinfilms

The c-axis oriented SmBa2Cu3O6+delta (SmBCO) thin films have been deposited on MgO(100) substrates with and without SrTiO3(100) buffer layers by pulse d laser deposition. By optimizing the oxygen partial pressure during the de position, the SmBCO thin film with the highest critical temperature of 89 K was successfully grown on SrTiO3 buffer layer. It confirms that the critic al temperature is linked to the oxygen partial pressure and the film thickn ess. Also, atomic force microscopy shows spiral growth formations with a un it-cell edge height and 30 nm terrace width on MgO substrate. (C) 2001 Else vier Science B.V. All rights reserved.