Non-vacuum YBCO films on buffer layered Ni tapes: processing, growth and properties

YBCO thin films on buffer layered Ni tapes were investigated via a sol-gel technique. YBCO films were prepared using solutions of various Y, Ba, and Cu precursor compounds. SrTiO/sub 3/ was used on Ni tapes as a buffer layer, ESEM, EDS, and XRD analysis were used to characterize the YBCO films. Sol-gel YBCO coated conductors on buffer layered Ni tapes yielded a T/sub c/ of 90 K by a transport 4-wire resistance measurement. The films produced in this manner were homogeneous, and free of pinholes and cracks.