Synthesis of YNi2B2C thin films by magnetron sputtering

Abstract

Thin films of YNi2B2C superconductor by the magnetron sputtering technique have been synthesized. The YNi2B2C phase was found to crystallize very uniformly after annealing at 1050 °C in vacuum. The structure was investigated and the electric and magnetic properties were characterized. The films were c-axis oriented and showed a Tc onset of ∼15 K by both magnetization and resistivity measurements. The results of the critical current measurement suggested the existence of anisotropies of pinning force and an upper critical field Bc2.