Low Cost Deposition of YBCO Films for Advanced HTS Conductor Applications

This program develops and demonstrates an innovative, low cost, solution and non-vacuum based process for deposition of YBCO on continuous, textured metal tape substrates. It is easily scaleable for long lengths of continuous conductors, and is an inherently more cost effective as it is scaled.Recent advances in the deposition of thick YBCO films have demonstrated that fabricating practical, long-length HTS conductors from thick film YBCO tapes is feasible. These materials have superior performance in magnetic fields, allowing development of HTS conductors for the high field applications required for many anticipated commercial and military applications. This process can produce precursor films up to 2 mm thick in a single coating process. It enable short deposition times, it is easily scaleable for long lengths of continuous conductors, and is an inherently low cost process. Its performance can be comparable to those of vacuum deposited YBCO on single crystal substrates.The Phase I program demonstrates the capability of applying the process to fabrication of high current density YBCO tapes on continuous, textured metal tape substrates. While the Phase II program demonstrates scalability of the process, scaling equipment and optimizing process conditions for continuous conductor manufacture to lengths exceeding 100 meters.