Preparation of biaxially cube textured Ag, Cu-Au and Cu-Au-Ag films on Cu substrates for HTS coated conductor applications

Copper (100) cube textured tapes have been covered successfully with biaxia lly textured thin and thick films of silver, gold and gold-silver by electr odeposition techniques for high temperature superconductors (HTS) coated co nductor applications. The cube texture of Cu was promoted by recrystallizat ion after smooth cold rolling. The biaxially cube textured Ag films were ob tained by the electro-epitaxial deposition technique using no post-depositi on heat treatment. Intermediate gold buffer layers were prepared in order t o increase the thermal stability of the cube-textured Ag-buffered Cu substr ates. The as-electrodeposited Au buffer layers were polycrystalline, but af ter an annealing treatment at high temperature the Au is absorbed by diffus ion mechanism into the Cu tapes and a biaxially solid solution of Au-Cu(100 ) is formed on the surface. Ag thin films deposited on Cu-Au substrates for m the same biaxial cube texture as the rolled Cu tapes after recrystallizat ion at high temperature.