STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

[0001] This invention was made with government support under DE-AC05- 00OR22725 awarded by the United States Department of Energy. The Government has certain rights in the invention,

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] This invention relates to superconducting materials and more particularly to methods for making seed layers for superconducting articles.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Successful fabrication of biaxially textured superconducting wire based on the coated conductor technology requires optimization of the cost/performance of the HTS (high temperature superconductor) conductor. From a superconducting performance standpoint, a long, large area, flexible, single crystal-like wire is required. From a cost and fabrication standpoint, an industrially scalable, low cost process is required. Both of these critical requirements are met by Rolling-assisted-biaxially-textured-substrates (RABiTS).

[0004] In order for cost/performance for a conductor based on this technology to be optimized, further work needs to be done in the area of buffer layer technology. It is now clear that while it is fairly straightforward to fabricate long lengths of biaxially textured metals or alloys, it is quite difficult to deposit high quality buffer layers using low cost processes. Requirements of buffer layers include—it should provide an effective chemical barrier for diffusion of deleterious elements from the metal to the superconductor, provide a good structural transition to the superconductor, have a high degree of crystallinity, excellent epitaxy with the biaxially textured metal template, have good mechanical properties, high electrical and thermal conductivity and should be able to be deposited at high rates.

[0005] Buffer layers play a key role in high-temperature superconductor (HTS) materials, particularly in second-generation rare-earth-barium-copper-oxide (REBCO), especially yttrium-barium-copper-oxide (YBCO) wire technology. The purpose of the buffer layers is to provide a continuous, smooth and chemically inert surface for the growth of the YBCO film, while transferring the biaxial texture from the substrate to the YBCO, Buffer layers are important for preventing metal diffusion from the substrate into the superconductor, and as oxygen diffusion barriers. Nickel can poison the YBCO layer, destroying the superconductive properties. To transfer the texture from the template to the superconductor while preventing the diffusion of nickel and tungsten metal to the YBCO film, buffer layers are needed. These insulating layers also reduce both alternating current (ac) losses and the thermal expansion mismatch between the crystal lattices of the substrate and the superconductor. Multi-layer architectures have been developed that also provide mechanical stability and good adhesion to the substrate.

[0006] It is important that the highly aligned buffer materials are matched in both the lattice constant and thermal expansion to the biaxially textured substrate and the YBCO layer. The buffer layers should be smooth, continuous, crack-free and dense. Even though the buffer layers are much thinner than the YBCO layer, buffer deposition cost is a substantial part of the total conductor cost.

[0007] When growing an epitaxial oxide film on a metal surface it is essential to avoid oxide formation before the nucleation of the layer is complete. For example YBCO is typically grown in an atmosphere containing 100 ppm or more of oxygen at 750-800 °C. Under such conditions Ni and W will form various native oxides on a NiW surface. Most of such oxide layers do not offer the bi- axial cubic texture required for high critical currents in the HTS layer. However, the ability of certain oxide films to be grown in very low oxygen partial pressures, i.e. below the oxidation of Ni and even W can be utilized.

[0008] Although it is possible to grow oxide buffers directly on textured metal surfaces under suitable reducing conditions, oxygen penetrates through the buffer layers such as yttrium oxide, yttria stabilized zirconia, cerium oxide, and lanthanum zirconium oxide (LZO) to the metal oxide interface during the YBCO processing. This is mainly because the oxygen diffusivity of the buffer layer materials at 800 °C is in the range of 10 ^~9 to 10 ^"i0 cm /sec. The diffusion is more rapid in slructures that are more prone to the occurrence of defects. Grain boundaries, pinholes and particulates can also provide diffusion paths in these films. In most instances the oxidation of the metal substrate cannot be suppressed completely. Thin homogeneous oxide layers are observed after final processing of the conductor without negative impact on the performance. Uncontrolled growth of substrate oxides, however, can result in multiple failures. Rapid and inhomogeneous oxide growth can penetrate the buffer layers and cause deterioration of the barrier properties of the buffer layer. For example, when excessive NiO is formed the full buffer layer stack can delaminate from the metal substrate due to volume expansion of, for example, Ni relative to NiO. The characteristics of tlie buffer layer can control die extent of oxide layer formation at the interface between the buffer and the substrate.

[0009] Buffer layers can be formed by multiple layers of materials which each serve a particular purpose. A thin seed layer is deposited directly on the substrate first, to subsequently allow the growth of the full buffer and finally the YBCO processing at higher oxygen levels. The function of a seed layer is to protect tlie substrate from oxidation during the formation of subsequent layers, which can include additional buffer layers and the superconductor layer, and also to provide an epitaxial template for growth of these subsequent layers.

[0010] One example of a buffer layer stack of the prior art includes the use of YSZ and CeO ₂ , typically in a configuration of CeO ₂ (or Y ₂ O ₃ )/YSZ/CeO ₂ . The purpose of the first buffer layer, or seed layer, is to provide a good epitaxial oxide layer on the reactive, biaxially textured Ni substrate without the formation of undesirable NiO. Ce0 ₂ is particularly useful in this regard due to its ability to very readily form single orientation cube-on-cube epitaxy on cube textured Ni. Deposition of CeO ₂ using a range of deposition techniques can be done using a background of forming gas (4% H ₂ -96% Ar) in the presence of small amounts of water vapor. Under such conditions the formation of NiO is thermodynamically unfavorable while the formation of CeO ₂ is thermodynamically favorable. The water vapor provides the necessary oxygen to form stoichiometric CeO ₂ . Using CeO ₂ as a buffer layer one can readily obtain a single orientation, sharp cube texture. Ideally, the Ce0 ₂ layer would be grown thick such that it also provides a chemical diffusion barrier from Ni, followed by deposition of YBCO. However, when the Ce0 ₂ layer is grown greater than 0.2 μηι in thickness, it readily forms micro-cracks. Hence a YSZ layer which does provide an excellent chemical barrier to diffusion of Ni and does not crack when grown thick is deposited on a thin initial template of Ce0 ₂ . However, since there is a significant lattice mismatch between YSZ and YBCO, a second phase with 45°-rotated orientation nucleates at times. In order to avoid the nucleation of this second orientation completely, a thin capping layer of Ce0 ₂ or another material is deposited epitaxially on the YSZ layer.

[0011] The fabrication of the buffer layer stack can be a time consuming, and cost limiting, factor in the process of fabricating superconducting articles. Accordingly, there is a need for improved methods of forming buffer layer stacks and in particular the seed layer. Efforts are being made to replace the existing three layer RABiTS architecture of all-sputtered CeO ₂ (or Y ₂ 0 ₃ )/YSZ/Y ₂ 0 ₃ with buffers deposited by industrially scalable solution methods. Metal organic deposition (MOD) processes offer significant cost advantages compared to physical vapor deposition (PVD) processes. About 0.8 μηι thick MOD- YBCO films grown on sputtered-CeO ₂ capped MOD-LZO films processed at 900°C supported an I _c of 336 A/cm width (J _c of 4.2 MA/cm ² ) at 77 K and self-field. This performance demonstrated the barrier properties of MOD-LZO and exceeded the typical 300 A/cm performance of all-PVD buffers. The barrier properties of LZO were demonstrated by growing MOD-LZO on sputtered Y ₂ O ₃ seeds. Sputtered Y ₂ O ₃ seed layers improve the texture relative to the substrate texture. The challenge is to develop an MOD seed layer with improved texture. MOD-Y ₂ O ₃ seeds grown directly on textured Ni-3W substrates did not show any improvement. However, recently, the growth of MOD-La ₃ TaO ₇ (LTO) and MOD-Ce0 ₂ seeds with improved texture on textured Ni-3W substrates has been demonstrated. MOD-LTO seeds were not compatible with MOD- LZO and Ce0 ₂ and also with sputtered-YSZ barriers. However, MOD-CeO ₂ seeds were compatible with sputtered YSZ and Ce0 ₂ and high I _c YBCO films were demonstrated. It is important to limit the thickness of CeO ₂ seeds to 40 nm or less to avoid the crack formation. Hence, there is a real need to develop another suitable solution seed with improved texture.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0012] A method of making a superconducting article includes the steps of providing a biaxially textured metal or alloy substrate; epitaxially depositing by a chemical solution process a seed layer comprising a double perovskite on the substrate, the seed layer comprising a double perovskite of the formula A ₂ B'B"0 ₆ , where A is rare earth or alkaline earth metal and B' and B" are different rare earth or transition metal cations; and epitaxially depositing a superconductor layer epitaxially such that the superconductor layer is supported by the seed layer. The chemical solution process can be selected from MOD, sol-gel alkoxide precursors, TFA-MOD, non-fluorine processes, and reduced fluorine processes.

[0013] A can be selected from the group consisting of Ba, Ca, or Sr. B' can be selected from the group consisting of Y and RE (RE=La-Lu). B" can be Nb or Ta. The seed layer can be Ba ₂ (Y,RE)Nb0 ₆ or Ba ₂ (Y,RE)Ta0 ₆ .

[0014] The substrate can comprises at least one of the group consisting of Ni— W, Ni— Cr, Ni— Cr— W, Ni— Cr— V, Ni— V, Cu-Ni, Cu-Pd, and Ni— Mn. The

superconducting layer can be any suitable superconductor, such as REBCO with and without self-aligned barium zirconate nano-rods or nano-dots.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] A fuller understanding of the present invention and the features and benefits thereof will be obtained upon review of the following detailed description together with the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0016] Figure 1 includes Θ-2Θ scans for a single coat 40-nm thick MOD- Ba ₂ LaTa0 ₆ (BLTO) films deposited on Ni-3W substrates. BLTO films have a preferred c-axis orientation.

[0017] Figure 2 includes Omega scans and Phi scans for single coat 40-nm thick MOD-BLTO films deposited on N1-3W substrates. [0018] Figure 3 includes (222) BLTO pole figure for single coat 40-nm thick MOD- BLTO films deposited on Ni-3W substrates. Four-fold symmetry indicates the presence of a cube textured BLTO films on Ni-W substrates,

[0019] Figure 4 indicates the possible schematic multi-layer architectures based on the double perovskite solution seeds of the formula A ₂ B'B"0 ₆ , where A is rare earth or alkaline earth metal and B' and B" are different rare earth or transition metal cations,

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE IN VENTION

[0020] The invention utilizes a chemical solution deposited double perovskite, such as Ba ₂ (Y and/or RE)NbO ₆ or Ba ₂ (Y and/or RE)Ta0 ₆ , for growing the seed layer on RABiTS tapes or other textured substrates. Since this phase has a large lattice mismatch with Ni-based alloys, it is expected that the out-of-plane texture of the double perovskite seed layer will be better than that of the Ni-based alloy substrate. The double perovskite seed layer may also serve as a better diffusion barrier layer since it has low reactivity and may also have less diffusion of cation elements through it and will be low-cost compared to a layer deposited by another technique. The double perovskite layer can also be deposited by physical vapor deposition techniques such as electron or thermal

evaporation, sputtering, pulsed laser deposition, metal-organic chemical vapor deposition, and the like.

[0021] Superconducting articles according to the invention include a double perovskite seed layer, a biaxially textured substrate and a biaxially textured superconducting layer. The term "seed layer" as used herein means that the double perovskite layer is in physical contact with the biaxially textured substrate, and can be interposed directly between the substrate and the superconducting layer or there can be additional layers between the superconducting layer and the double perovskite seed layer.

[0022] Double perovskites useful for the invention have the general formula A ₂ B'B"0 ₆ , where A is rare earth (RE) or alkaline earth metal and B' and B" are different RE or transition metal cations. A can be Ba, Ca, or Sr. B' can be Y, RE. B" can be Nb or Ta.

[0023] The invention incorporates a seed layer of the double perovskite phase, such as Ba ₂ (Y and/or RE)NbO ₆ or Ba ₂ (Y and/or RE)TaO ₆ , for growing the superconducting film, Since this phase has a large lattice mismatch with REBCO or YBCO films, it is expected that the c-axis of the YBCO phase will sharply tilt towards the substrate normal. When this happens, the full-width-half-maximum of the rocking curve or the omega scans both for rocking in the rolling direction and about the rolling direction, can sharpen considerably, which can result in a YBCO or REBCO layer with a FWHM of the out-of-plane texture of only a few degrees, This may in turn also make the FWHM of the in-plane texture sharper, This improvement, in texture could result in significant enhancement in the critical current density of the films. Also, unlike the presently used buffer layers of CeO ₂ and LaMnO ₃ , wherein reaction with YBCO or REBCO are observed, the double perovskite phase Ba ₂ (Y and/or RE)Nb0 ₆ or Ba. ₂ (Y and/or RE)Ta0 ₆ have essentially no reaction with REBCO or YBCO.

[0024] The chemical solution process can be any that is suitable to deposit the double perovskite seed layer on the biaxially textured substrate. Currently available processes include those such as metal organic deposition using sol-gel alkoxide precursors, trifluoroacetates precursor solution (TFA-MOD), non-fluorine MOD processes, and reduced fluorine MOD processes. Other chemical solution deposition processes suitable for depositing double perovskite seed layers are possible.

[0025] A buffer system in addition to the seed layer can be provided and generally comprises the layers between the seed layer and the superconductor layer. Buffer systems in accordance with the present invention can comprise any known architecture, and can be deposited on the seed layer by any known means. Differing buffer layers can be utilized to impart desired properties to the overall structure, including, but not limited to, providing an effective chemical barrier for diffusion of deleterious elements, preventing deleterious reactions with adjacent layers or during the formation of adjacent layers, providing a good structural transition between layers, and providing a high degree of epitaxy with adjacent layers. The buffer layers should in some cases also have good mechanical properties, and high electrical and/or thermal conductivity.

[0026] Some examples of suitable buffer layer deposition methods include, but are not limited to: physical vapor deposition (PVD) which includes pulsed laser deposition (PLD), electron beam evaporation, sputtering (reactive, rf, dc, for example), etc.; chemical vapor deposition (CVD) which includes metal-organic CVD (MOCVD), solgel deposition, metal-organic deposition, spray pyrolysis, and plasma spray; and plating methods such as electrodeposition and electroless deposition.

[0027] Some examples of suitable buffer layers include, but are not limited to TiN, Ce0 ₂ , Y2O3, SrTiOs, BaZr0 ₃ , BaSn0 ₃ , BaCe0 ₃ , YSZ, (RE _{1 -x} Sr _x )Mn0 ₃ , REMn0 ₃ , RE ₂ 0 ₃ , REAI O ₃ , RE ₂ Zr ₂ 0 ₇ , RE ₃ Nb0 ₇ , RESMO, and REMO where RE comprises at least one rare-earth element, namely Y, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Pm, Sm, Eu, Gd, Th, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, and Lu, and where M comprises at least one metal. Some specific examples of suitable conductive buffer layers are LaNi0 ₃ , La0 ₇ , Ca0 ₃ , Mn0 ₃ , LaCo0 ₃ , La0 ₅ , Sr0 ₅ , Ti0 ₃ , SrRu0 ₃ , and La ₂ Cii0 ₄ . Multiple layer architectures are also known,

[0028] The invention provides for the growth of a solution-based double perovskite buffer layer directly on Ni-W with improved out-of -plane texture. The development of an all-solution buffer/YBCO process to fabricate these layers can provide potentially lower-cost, high performance second generation coated conductors, with a goal to demonstrate an Ic of 300 A/cm width for all-solution buffers on RABiTS. Double perovskite oxides such as Ba ₂ YNb0 ₆ do not react with YBCO. Hence, it is desirable to grow double perovskite based solution seeds.

[0029] Ba ₂ LaTa0 ₆ (BLTO) has been identified as a potential buffer layer. N1-3W (3 at. wt. %) substrates were cut to 1-cm wide and 4-crn long and 50-μιη thick tapes. About 0.25 M, 10 ml BLTO precursor solutions were prepared from Barium metal (Alfa, 0.172 g), Lanthanum isopropoxide (Alfa, La 40% assay, 0.198 g), Tantalum ethoxide (Alfa, 0.254g), and 2-methoxyethanol (Alfa, spectrophotometric grade). About 0.25 M total cation concentration was used to grow 40-nm thick BLTO films in a single coat on Ni- 3W substrates. Spin coating was used to deposit BLTO films at a spin rate of 4000 rpm for 30 sec in a controlled humidity of 40-60%. The spin coated films were then crystallized at 1050 °C for 18 min in a flowing gas mixture of Ar/H ₂ 4%, and subsequently quenched to room temperature. [0030] Highly textured MOD-BLTO films with improved out-of-plane texture compared to the texture of underlying Ni-3W substrates were achieved. The Θ-2Θ XRD patterns for single-coat 40-nm thick BLTO seed layers are shown in Figure 1. The BLTO films have a preferred c-axis orientation. Both out-of-plane and in-plane texture data and (222) BLTO pole figure on BLTO films are reported in Figures 2 and 3, respectively. The full width at half maximum (FWHM) values for Ni-W (002), and BLTO (004) are 5.02°, and 4.19° (in the rolling direction) and 7.7°, and 5.9° (about the rolling direction), and those of Ni-W (1 11 ), and BLTO (222) are 7.5°, and 7.5°, respectively. The four- fold symmetry in the BLTO (222) pole figure (Figure 3) indicates the presence of a cube textured BLTO films on Ni-W substrates. This demonstrates that the invention can provide a route for producing low-cost MOD buffer layers for YBCO coated conductors. Several other architectures can also be developed on double perovksite seeds. The specific examples are shown in Figure 4: Ni-W/Ba ₂ (Y and/or RE)NbO ₆ or Ba. ₂ (Y and/or RE)TaO ₆ /REB CO ; Ni-W Ba ₂ (Y and/or RE)Nb0 ₆ or Ba ₂ (Y and/or RE)TaO ₆ A SZ/CeO ₂ /REBCO; Ni-W/Ba ₂ (Y and/or RE)Nb0 ₆ or Ba ₂ (Y and/or RE)Ta0 ₆ /Ce0 ₂ REBCO; Ni-W/Ba ₂ (Y and/or RE)Nb0 ₆ or Ba ₂ (Y and/or RE)TaO ₆ /LZO/CeO ₂ /REBCO.

[0031] It should be understood that the examples and embodiments described herein are for illustrative purposes only and that various modifications or changes in light thereof will be suggested to persons skilled in the art and are to be included within the spirit and purview of this application. The invention can take other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof.