In situ growth and superconducting properties of YNi2B2C thin films

Thin films of the recently discovered intermetallic superconducting compound YNi2B2C have been grown in situ using a magnetron sputtering technique. High quality, c-axis oriented, films were obtained on MgO substrates held at about 800 degree C during the sputtering process. The best films showed maximum Tc=15.25 K (onset), a transition width of ≅0.3 K, a room-temperature resistivity of 53±3 μΩcm, a residual resistivity ratio up to ≅5.4, a low-temperature critical current Jc≅105 A/cm2 and Bc2≥6 T. Superconducting films were also obtained on sapphire and LaAlO3 substrates. copyright 1996 American Institute of Physics