In-Situ Patterning and Critical Current Density Measurements in Laser Deposited High-Tc Superconducting Thin Films

Abstract

We have performed transport critical current density, J_c, measurements on epitaxial superconducting thin films which were in-situ patterned during the laser deposition process. Shadow masks of various dimensions were placed close to the substrate to generate different patterns. Epitaxial films of YBa₂Cu₃O₇ on (100) SrTiO₃, (100) YSZ, and (100) LaA1O₃ substrates were fabricated at low processing temperatures (500-650°Q by the biased laser deposition technique in an oxygen ambient of 200 mtorr. Excellent quality superconducting thin films were formed on patterned areas. The critical temperature of the films was found to be in the range of 88 to 90 K, and the best critical current density values (at 77K, and zero magnetic field) greater than 6.5 x10⁶ Amps/cm² were obtained for silver doped YBa₂Cu₃O₇ films on (100)LaAlO₃ substrates.