Solution-condensed YBa[sub 2]Cu[sub 3]O[sub 7[minus]x] superconductor thin films from thermosetting metal-organic precursors

This paper reports that two different multimetal organic compounds were synthesized and used to deposit thin Y:Ba:Cu oxide films on selected metal and ceramic substrates by the dip-coating method. The rheology of the precursors is strongly influenced by the organic ligand, types of solvent, solvent water molar ratio, and processing method. The precursor compounds were converted to suitable viscosity to achieve uniform film thickness processing on complex geometry. Superconducting transition temperatures T[sub c] in the range of 89 to 93 K have been measured, depending on processing parameters used. The critical current density, J[sub c] of the solution-coated films had values comparable to those for poly-crystalline samples. Y123 films exhibit c-axis alignment on Ag substrates. A prototype high-Q cavity was coated with Y123 and its performance was evaluated.