GB2290307A - Process for preparing a superconductive YBa2CU3O7-x film - Google Patents

Process for preparing a superconductive YBa2CU3O7-x film Download PDF

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GB2290307A
GB2290307A GB9409534A GB9409534A GB2290307A GB 2290307 A GB2290307 A GB 2290307A GB 9409534 A GB9409534 A GB 9409534A GB 9409534 A GB9409534 A GB 9409534A GB 2290307 A GB2290307 A GB 2290307A
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film
phase
substrate
ybco
silver
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GB2290307B (en
GB9409534D0 (en
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Hiroshi Yokota
John Stuart Abell
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Ebara Corp
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Ebara Corp
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    • HELECTRICITY
    • H10SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES; ELECTRIC SOLID-STATE DEVICES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • H10NELECTRIC SOLID-STATE DEVICES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • H10N60/00Superconducting devices
    • H10N60/01Manufacture or treatment
    • H10N60/0268Manufacture or treatment of devices comprising copper oxide
    • H10N60/0296Processes for depositing or forming copper oxide superconductor layers
    • H10N60/0548Processes for depositing or forming copper oxide superconductor layers by deposition and subsequent treatment, e.g. oxidation of pre-deposited material

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
  • Superconductors And Manufacturing Methods Therefor (AREA)
  • Inorganic Compounds Of Heavy Metals (AREA)

Abstract

A process for preparing a superconductive YBa2CU3O7-x (YBCO) film is provided by forming a Y2BaCuO5 (211) film by thermal decomposition of a coating using metal-organic compounds, forming the (035) or (037) phase comprising an oxide or a mixture of an oxide and a carbonate, if necessary, with the addition of silver to thereby produce a two-layer structure of the (211) - (035) phases, subjecting the structure to heat treatment to cause diffusion reaction and sintering, and subjecting the resultant YBa2CU3Ox film to annealing.

Description

PROCESS FOR PREPARING A SUPERCONDUCTIVE YBa2Cu3 07-X FILM This invention relates to a process for preparing a superconductive YBCO film.
It is known that highly grain-oriented oxide superconductors exhibit low barriers to electrical conductivity in the grain boundaries, thus enabling a high current density. As an effective process for preparing a highly oriented film, it has been proposed to form a film on a single crystal substrate by means of epitaxial growth with the film having lattice constants (a, b and c) close to those of the substrate, and a grain-orientated structure in a-axis, b-axis and c-axis directions. Epitaxial growth may be achieved by vapor deposition methods such as laser ablation deposition and CVD.Using such methods, YBCO films having critical current densities (Jc) of at least 106 A/cm2 (77K, OT) were actually formed on single crystal substrates such as MgO, SrTiO3 and LaAlO3. They are, however, formed only for use in small electronic components because single crystal substrates are expensive and films cannot be fabricated over large areas. There has, therefore, been a need to provide a technique capable of forming a high quality film even on polycrystalline or metallic substrates for a variety of industrial applications.
The use of the above mentioned vapor deposition methods to form a YBCO film on a polycrystalline substrate 4 2 lowers its c to a level as low as 104 A/cm2. Japanese Patent Public Disclosure (kokai) No. 64-65003 discloses a thermal decomposition coating method. The method is capable of preparing a YBCO film on a single crystal substrate with the YBCO film having a Jc of at least 1 x 106 A/cm2, and therefore is expected to be widely used in future applications. However, the films formed on polycrystalline YSZ or silver substrates using such a method results in an insufficient c-axis orientation and a Jc of less than 1000 A/cm2. Further, a method which involves partial melting to enhance grain orientation and promote grain growth has been studied.In this method, films of inferior quality having low critical current densities (Jc) of a few thousand A/cm2 have been produced, because they are required to be heated at temperatures of 970 CC or more, thus causing problems such as reaction between film and substrate, the occurrence of cracks due to shrinkage during solidification, the incidence of impurities, etc.
A method using a diffusion reaction has long been known as an effective means of enhancing grain orientation.
Wires of superconductive materials such as NbTi and Nb3Sn have been prepared using a diffusion reaction. The preparation of YBCO films by the diffusion reaction method has been proposed by Tachikawa et al. of Tokai University.
The proposed process comprises coating a paste made of a powdered mixture of the (035) oxide and silver on a porous sintered Y2BaCuO5 substrate, and subjecting it to a hightemperature reaction to form a YBCO film on the remaining unreacted (211) phase of the substrate. The resultant YBCO film was relatively dense and grains thereof were orientated toward the c-axis in the neighborhood of the interface.
Further, the film exhibited an improvement in joe Jc in comparison with that prepared in accordance with a conventional method. Such a relatively dense film shows that a slight liquid phase reaction occurred during sintering of the greenbody. However, films formed in this way still suffered from weak link problems at grain boundaries and the resulting sintered bodies exhibited of of less than 5000 A/cm2. In addition, because the preparation process requires the use of the (211) phase as a substrate, its industrial application is limited.
For example, flexible and conductive metals, which are the most preferred substrate materials for superconductive wires or tapes, and Awl203, MgO and YSZ, which are preferred for microwave devices due to their small dielectric loss, are not suitable as a substrate material in this process.
This is because a relatively dense sintered layer of the (211) phase can only be obtained by a high-temperature treatment of at least 9500C, which will cause problems such as reaction between the substrate and the (211) layer, when this (211) layer is prepared on one of these preferred substrate materials, Further, cracks will develop in the (211) phase due to the thermal expansion difference between (211) and the substrate. Furthermore, the diffusion reaction between (211) and (035) can occur upon high-temperature heat treatment of more than 850 CC over an extended period of time in air or oxygen. Because YBCO produced by this reaction is relatively reactive, it was difficult to prevent the occurrence of a reaction between the YBCO film and the substrate.For the aforementioned reasons, it was necessary to use a sintered substrate of the (211) phase in this method.
According to the present invention, a process is described for preparing a superconductive YBa2Cu3 07-x (YBCO) film on a substrate comprising the steps of: a. forming a Y2BaCuO5 (211) film on a substrate by thermal decomposition of a coating using metal-organic compounds, b. forming on this (211) layer a film of the (035) or (037) phase or a phase composition close thereto comprising an oxide or a mixture of an oxide and a carbonate, if necessary, with the addition of silver to thereby produce a two-layered structure, c. the ratio of weight or thickness of the (211) layer and the (035) or (037) layer should be controlled to have the same molar volume and the react to yield a uniform YBCO film in accordance with the formula (211) + (035) = 2 (123); deviations from this precise ratio can be used to control the final composition of the film, d. alternatively, a three-layer structure can be formed comprising 211-Ag-035, e. subjecting the resultant two or three-layered structure to heat treatment under a partial oxygen pressure of 1 x 10-5 5 to 1 x 10 1 atm at a temperature of 650 to 930"C to cause a diffusion reaction and sintering to thereby produce a YBa2Cu 30x film, and f. subjecting the YBa2Cu30x film to annealing in an oxygen atmosphere at a temperature of 350 to 900 CC to cause oxidation of the film.
The process of the invention is characterized by a film forming process and heat-treatment conditions and is capable of solving the above-mentioned problems. The process requires a combination of a diffusion reaction and thermal decomposition of a coating using metal-organic compounds, thus making it possible to prepare a uniform YBCO film of highly oriented grains with a high Jc . When thermal decomposition is employed, neither a single crystal substrate nor a vacuum chamber is required. Accordingly, films having a large area or continuous length can be easily prepared. That is to say, the invention has various applications such as in superconductive films for electronic devices, superconductive wires, and superconductive magnetic tapes and coils.
The invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 shows a pattern of X-ray diffraction (XRD) of a YBCO film prepared on a silver substrate prepared in accordance with the invention; Figs. 2 and 3 show the temperature dependence of magnetic susceptibility of YBCO films (including silver) prepared on a YSZ substrate in accordance with the invention; Fig. 4 shows the effect of silver-addition to the (035) phase with silver being added within the range of O to 1.2 molar ratio; Fig. 5 shows measurements of critical current densities (Jc) of a YBCO film prepared by means of the invention; and Fig. 6 shows the temperature dependence of magnetic susceptibility for a two-layered structure of the (211) (035) phases and a three-layered structure of the (211) Ag - (035) phases.
In the process of the invention, a film of the (211) phase ranging in thickness from 0.1 to 10 p is formed on an appropriate substrate such as YSZ, MgO, BaZrO31 SrTiO3 LaAlO3, Awl203, or Ag- or Ni-based alloys which are heatresistant and less reactive to YBCO using thermal decomposition of a metal-organic compound.
In the thermal decomposition method, materials such as metal-organic acid salts, alcoxides and acetylacetonates are mixed in such amounts that the molar ratio of Y:Ba:Cu is 2:1:1 and the mixture is dissolved in a solvent such as toluene to prepare a solution. Next, the solution is coated on a substrate, dried, and heated up to a temperature of 300 to 500"C to cause thermal decomposition of the metal-organic compounds and combustion of the organic component to remove them. As a result, a film comprising a mixture of Y2031 BaC03 and CuO is obtained. After this process has been repeated to gain a desired thickness, a film thus obtained is subjected to heat-treatment at 800 to 950"C to allow a solid-phase reaction between the components to thereby yield the (211) phase.Since the thermal decomposition method is capable of producing a film of dense fine grains, there occurs a solid-phase reaction at relatively low temperatures without any reaction between the (211) phase and the substrate, thus providing a film of the dense (211) phase.
The film is uniform and free of macroscopic defects because the (211) phase is comprised of fine grains and, therefore, is highly resistance to stress due to the thermal expansion difference between film and substrate. Subsequently, a film of the (035) phase is formed in a similar way. In the thermal decomposition method, a solution in which the molar ratio of Ba:Cu is 3:5 is prepared and coated on a substrate plus 211 film to cause thermal decomposition at 300 to 500 cm, thus producing a composite film. Adding silver to the (035) phase accelerates diffusion and sintering, thus improving bonding between grains. Therefore, preferred properties can be obtained by heat treatment at lower temperatures.The thermal decomposition method is usually conducted by adding silver naphthenate to a coating solution, and therefore is advantageous in that 1) silver is uniformly diffused in the coating solution, and 2) the amount of silver can easily be controlled. Effects can be obtained when an amount of 1 to 30 wt of silver is added.
Excessive amounts of silver will be precipitated on the surface of the coated film upon heat-treatment.
To obtain a uniform YBCO film, the ratio of weight or thickness of (211) phase and (035) or (037) layer should be controlled to have the same molar volume and react completely in accordance with the formula (211) + (035) = 2 (123). When the ratio is deviated from this value, that is in the case of excess (211) phase, then (211) may remain at the bottom of the produced YBCO film, while (035) or (037) phase may remain on the surface of the YBCO film in the case of an excess of (035) or (037). The 211 film remaining at the bottom of the YBCO film may act as a potential barrier layer to prevent reaction and diffusion between the YBCO film and the substrate.
In this way, a film is produced of a two-layered structure of the (211) - (035) phases (including silver).
Alternatively, there is produced a three-layered structure of the (211) - Ag - (035) phases. The three-layered structure is advantageous in grain orientation because in addition to the effect of Ag-addition, diffusion reaction uniformly occurs.
The two- or three-layer structure is subjected to heat treatment under an oxygen partial pressure of 1 x 10 to 1 x 10 1 atm at 650 to 930 CC for 0.1 to 50 hours to cause a diffusion reaction between the two phases to thereby yield a YBCO film in accordance with the following formulae: Y2BaCuO5 + (3BaC03 + 5CuO) = 2YBa2Cu306 5 + 3CO2, or Y2BaCuO5 + (3BaCuO2 + 2CuO) = 2YBa2Cu3065 A low partial oxygen pressure is effective for preparing a YBCO film of high quality upon low-temperature heat treatment because it accelerates solid phase reaction and diffusion. Diffusion is better accelerated when silver is added.The combination of a partial oxygen pressure of 1 x 10-5 5 to 5 x 10 2 atm with the addition of silver enables a high quality film to be formed at relatively low temperatures, very advantageous in view of avoiding a reaction between the film(s) and the substrate. The resultant YBCO film has a tetragonal structure and poor superconducting properties due to oxygen insufficiency.
Then, the film is subjected to annealing in an oxygen atmosphere at 350 to 900QC to fully oxidize the film to thereby produce a YBCO ortho rhombic structure film.
Fig. 1 shows measurements of a pattern of X-ray diffraction for the YBCO film. As can easily be seen, diffraction peaks are observed only for the (001) planes.
This indicates that grains are highly orientated with the c-axis normal to the plane of the film.
Fig. 2 shows the temperature dependence of magnetic susceptibility for YBCO films prepared on YSZ substrates under the same heat treatment conditions (at 7700C for 12 or 24 hours) except for oxygen partial pressure.
Fig. 3 shows the temperature dependence of magnetic susceptibility for YBCO films prepared on a YSZ substrate under the same oxygen partial pressure of 3 x 10 4 atm, but at different temperatures for different times. A film which exhibits a sharp magnetic susceptibility transition is believed to have a higher critical temperature and better superconducting properties. The figures indicate that the most preferred properties are imparted to a film which was subjected to heat treatment for diffusion at about 770"C in a 0.03% 02-containing atmosphere (an oxygen partial pressure of 3 x 10-4 atm).
Fig. 4 shows the effect of silver addition to the (035) phase with silver being added within the range of O to 1.2 molar ratio. As is obvious from the figure, the most favorable magnetic susceptibilities can be obtained with films having about 0.6 to 0.9 molar weights (about 4 to 8 wt%) silver. Further, it is found that a change in magnetization (superconducting transition) is sharp at a Tc (onset) of > 90K.
Fig. 5 shows measurements of critical current densities (Jc) of a YBCO film prepared on a silver substrate (2 pm x 6 mm x 10 mm) by the dc four point probe method. The figure indicates that the film has 2 a Jc (77K, OT, 1 pV/cm) of more than 20,000 A/cm2. The c value is the highest reported for YBCO films directly formed on a silver substrate.
Fig. 6 shows the temperature dependence of magnetic fundamental susceptibility of real (') and imaginary (") components of (relative) for the (211) - (035) phases and the (211) - Ag - (035) phases in the YBCO films prepared on YSZ substrates upon heat treatment in 0.03% oxygencontaining atmosphere at 770C for 12 hours in accordance with the process of the invention. The figure indicates that the YBCO film prepared upon heat treatment of the three-layer structure has an enhanced Tc and a sharp superconducting transition.
As discussed on the foregoing pages, the process of the invention is capable of forming a film of highly oritentated-grains having excellent superconducting properties even on polycrystalline or metallic substrates.
In some embodiments of the invention, the use of the thermal decomposition method is particularly advantageous in making superconductive films of large area and continuous length because no vacuum apparatus is required.
Examples: 1. A film in which the molar ratio of Y:Ba:Cu is 2:1:1 was formed on a YSZ substrate by thermal decomposition coating using yttrium octylate, barium naphthenate, copper and silver. The film was subjected to heat treatment in air at 900 CC for one hour to yield the green (211) phase film about 0.4 p thick. Next, a (035) film about 0.8 p thick was formed thereon by the thermal decomposition method and the film thus treated was subjected to heat treatment in a 0.03% oxygen-containing Ar atmosphere at 7700C for 12 hours, and then subjected to annealing at 450 CC for 2 hours and allowed to cool in furnace to thereby produce a YBCO film of 8 mm x 25 mm. The YBCO film was measured for magnetic susceptibility and critical current density. The film showed a Tc (onset) of 90.5K and 2 a Jc of 2300 A/cm (77K, OT, 1 pV/cm).
2. A (211) phase film about 0.4 p thick was formed on a silver substrate, and a film about 1.0 p thick in which the composition Y:Ba:Cu:Ag is 0:3:7:0.9 was formed thereon, and heat treated in the same ways as in Example 1. The prepared YBCO film showed a Tc (onset) of 90.OK and a Jc of 13,500 A/cm2 (77K, OT, 0.1 pV/cm) and 16,000 A/cm2 (77K, OT, 1 pV/cm).
Although the invention has been shown and described with respect to a preferred embodiment thereof, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes and omissions in the form and detail thereof may be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims (4)

1. A process for preparing a superconductive YBa2Cu307 x (YBCO) film on a substrate by thermal decomposition of a coating using metal-organic compounds, comprising the steps of: a. forming a Y2BaCuO5 (211) film on a substrate b. forming on this (211) film a film of the (035) or (037) phase or a phase composition close to them comprising an oxide or a mixture of an oxide and a carbonate, if necessary, with the addition of silver to thereby produce a two-layer structure of the (211) - (035) phases, c. determining the thickness of the 211 phase as a potential barrier layer by controlling the ratio of the precursor layers, d. subjecting the resultant two-layer structure to heat treatment under an oxygen partial pressure of 1 x to to 1 x 10 1 atm at a temperature of 650 to 9300C to cause diffusion reaction and sintering to thereby produce a YBa2Cu 30x film, and e. subjecting the YBa2Cu30x film to annealing in an oxygen atmosphere at a temperature of 350 to 9000C to cause oxidation of the film.
2. A process according to Claim 1, in which in step (b), prior to formation of the film of the (035) phase, a silver film is formed on the film of the (211) phase to produce a three-layer structure of the (211) - Ag - (035) phases.
3. A process according to Claim 1 or 2, in which the substrate comprises polycrystalline or metallic materials.
4. A process as herein before described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
GB9409534A 1994-05-12 1994-05-12 Process for preparing a superconductive YBa2Cu307-X film Expired - Fee Related GB2290307B (en)

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Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN100443440C (en) * 1996-07-12 2008-12-17 郑州大学 Method for preparing yttrium barium copper oxygen superconductive material

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0310245A2 (en) * 1987-09-30 1989-04-05 General Motors Corporation Formation of film superconductors by metallo-organic deposition
EP0340865A2 (en) * 1988-05-06 1989-11-08 Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. Method for producing a superconductive Ca-Sr-Bi-Cu-O layer
EP0356352A2 (en) * 1988-08-25 1990-02-28 EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY (a New Jersey corporation) Yttrium rich conductive articles and processes for their preparation
US5019552A (en) * 1990-02-20 1991-05-28 The United States Of America As Represented By The United States Department Of Energy Long-laser-pulse method of producing thin films

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0310245A2 (en) * 1987-09-30 1989-04-05 General Motors Corporation Formation of film superconductors by metallo-organic deposition
EP0340865A2 (en) * 1988-05-06 1989-11-08 Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. Method for producing a superconductive Ca-Sr-Bi-Cu-O layer
EP0356352A2 (en) * 1988-08-25 1990-02-28 EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY (a New Jersey corporation) Yttrium rich conductive articles and processes for their preparation
US5019552A (en) * 1990-02-20 1991-05-28 The United States Of America As Represented By The United States Department Of Energy Long-laser-pulse method of producing thin films

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN100443440C (en) * 1996-07-12 2008-12-17 郑州大学 Method for preparing yttrium barium copper oxygen superconductive material

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GB2290307B (en) 1998-01-07
GB9409534D0 (en) 1994-06-29

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