Growth and superconductivity of <i>c</i>-axis in-plane aligned YBa2Cu3O7−<i>x</i> films fabricated by the self-template method

Abstract

In-plane aligned a-axis oriented and [110] oriented Y1Ba2Cu3O7−x (YBCO) films exhibiting different anisotropic ratio in resistivity were fabricated, respectively, on LaSrGaO4[100] and SrTiO3[110] substrates by the self-template method. The anisotropic properties of the a-axis films as studied by resistivity and thermoelectric power measurements are believed to reflect the anisotropy intrinsic to the YBCO system. The measured anisotropic properties of the a-axis films exhibiting anisotropy ratio ≳8 in resistivity and of the as-deposited [110] films were found to be related to cracks and the rough surface of these films. Furthermore, high-resolution microscopy revealed that a-axis film growth by our self-template method is dependent on the kinetics of the deposition process.