Low-loss YBa2Cu3O7 films on flexible, polycrystalline-yttria-stabilized zirconia tapes for cryoelectronic applications

High-temperature superconducting films on flexible, low-thermal conductivity, low-loss substrates offer a unique base for the development of cryoelectronic digital interconnects. Using an ion-beam-assisted pulsed-laser-deposition technique, we developed biaxially textured YBa2Cu3O7 (YBCO) films on flexible polycrystalline-yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) substrates with the following materials properties: (i) in-plane x-ray Φ-scan full width at half maximum of ∼7°; (ii) transition temperatures (Tc) in the range of 88–89 K with transition widths (ΔTc) of ∼0.5 K; (iii) critical current densities (Jc) in the range 1.5–2×106 A/cm2 at 77 K, zero field; (iv) magnetic penetration depth (λ) of 284 nm at 77 K; and (v) surface resistance (Rs) of 700 μΩ at 77 K, 10 GHz. The low-microwave loss, biaxilly textured YBCO films combined with the low-thermal conductivity YSZ substrate could facilitate a variety of RF cryoelectronic applications.