Low Temperature Deposition of YBa2Cu3O(7-x) Films on Large Area and Non-planar Substrates

Solution based deposition processes represent an extremely attractive method for the inexpensive fabrication of high Tc superconducting films on large area and non-planar surfaces. EIC Laboratories has developed a unique precursor consisting of an extremely soluble Cu-Ba-Y oxoalkalide complex that can be deposited on planar and non-planar surfaces by standard spin and dip coating techniques. The precursor films undergo a facile conversion to the superconducting YBa(2)Cu(3)O(7-x) phase at temperatures as low as 720 degrees Celsius. The process results in c-axis oriented YBa(2)Cu(3)O(7-x) films with Tc's of >90 Kelvin and Jc's of >2 x 10(5) A/cm2 at 77 Kelvin. The fabrication of large area and non-planar films requires optimization of the thermal processing conditions to insure uniform electrical properties over the entire film surface. The process represents a low cost technique for coating cavities, radomes and large area planar substrates with high quality superconducting films.