YBCO coated conductor with a single buffer layer of Yttrium Oxide

Y$_2$O$_3$ films were pulsed laser deposited on cube textured Ni and Ni-W substrates to be used as a single buffer layer of YBCO coated conductor. Initial deposition of $Y_2$O$_3$ films was performed in a reducing atmosphere, and subsequent deposition was done in the base pressure of the chamber and oxygen atmosphere. The $Y_2$O$_3$ films have a strong cube texture (The full width at half maximum of the ø-scan of $Y_2$O$_3$ was 8.4 which was the same as that of metal substrate) and smooth crack-free microstructure. The biaxially textured YBCO films (The full width at half maximum of the ø-scan was 10.2) pulsed laser deposited on the $Y_2$O$_3$/metal exhibited Tc(R=0) of 86.5K and Jc of 0.7 MA/cm2 at 77K in self field, representing that the $Y_2$O$_3$ single buffer layer is an efficient diffusion barrier of Ni and thus very promising for the achievement of high-Jc YBCO coated conductor.