High quality silver contacts on ceramic superconductors obtained by electrodeposition from non-aqueous solvents

Contacts on high temperature superconductors have been fabricated using an electrodeposition process in non-aqueous media. This technique allows obtaining specific resistance values lower than 10 −9 Ω cm 2 in a reproducible way. We have studied the differences in the silver grain morphology and metallic coating homogeneity depending on different electrodeposition parameters, such as deposition current density or different shaking techniques. The best results are obtained if the deposition process takes place in as-grown samples, before performing the required annealing to the superconducting material. The comparison between the predictions of the metallic layer thickness and the measured values indicates that the process is highly efficient and that the silver coating has a high density.