Effect of template post-annealing on Y(Dy)BaCuO nucleation on CeO2 buffered metallic tapes

• Published in: Physica. C, Superconductivity Vol. 539; pp. 13 - 18
• Main Authors: Hu, Xuefeng, Zhong, Yun, Zhong, Huaxiao, Fan, Feng, Sang, Lina, Li, Mengyao, Fang, Qiang, Zheng, Jiahui, Song, Haoyu, Lu, Yuming, Liu, Zhiyong, Bai, Chuanyi, Guo, Yanqun, Cai, Chuanbing
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 15.08.2017
• Subjects: Annealing and post-annealing; Ceria buffers; Coated conductor; Humid Ar/5%H2; Nucleation; Coated conductor; Ceria buffers; Nucleation; Humid Ar/5%H2; Annealing and post-annealing
• ISSN: 0921-4534; 1873-2143
• DOI: 10.1016/j.physc.2017.06.001

•This work firstly reports comparison of annealing and post-annealing treatment about CeO2 buffer films under different atmospheres.•Post-annealed CeO2 film shows a very different surface morphology, smooth and regular.•Besides, the CeO2 post-annealed in humid Ar/H2 atmosphere exhibits smallest overall c-axis tilts and improves oxygen adsorption capacity, compared to untreated annealing thin film, which has never been reported before.•The smaller grain size of CeO2 buffer layer may contribute to smaller grain size and larger density of island nucleation about CCs. Substrate engineering is very significant in the synthesis of the high-temperature superconductor (HTS) coated conductor. Here we design and synthesize several distinct and stable Cerium oxide (CeO2) surface reconstructions which are used to grow epitaxial films of the HTS YBa2Cu3O7-δ (YBCO). To identify the influence of annealing and post-annealing surroundings on the nature of nucleation centers, including Ar/5%H2, humid Ar/5%H2 and O2 in high temperature annealing process, we study the well-controlled structure, surface morphology, crystal constants and surface redox processes of the ceria buffers by using X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and field-emission scanning electronic microscopy (FE-SEM), respectively. The ceria film post-annealed under humid Ar/5%H2 gas shows the best buffer layer properties. Furthermore, the film absorbs more oxygen ions, which appears to contribute to oxygenation of superconductor film. The film is well-suited for ceria model studies as well as a perfect substitute for CeO2 bulk material.