Preparation of YBCO/Ag superconducting tapes with a high current-carrying capacity by MOCVD using a single solution source from a supersonic atomizer

We report the preparation of YBCO superconducting tapes on polycrystalline Ag substrates by a modified MOCVD technique using a single solution source from a supersonic atomizer. The source materials Y(TMHD)3, Ba(TMHD)2 and Cu(TMHD)2 were dissolved in tetrahydrofuran in the required ratios, the solution source was atomized by a supersonic atomizer and was transported with a carrier gas of argon through a thermal vaporizer, and then the growing source gases were immediately led into a CVD chamber heated at 800-850 deg. C to deposit YBCO layers. Zero-resistance temperatures (Tc0) of the YBCO samples obtained were in the range 89-91 K. The best sample has a Jc value of 2.2x105 A cm-2 (78 K, 0 T). The approaches to improvement in the current-carrying capacity of YBCO superconducting tapes are also discussed in this paper. (author)