Growth of high <i>T</i> <i>c</i> superconducting thin films using molecular beam epitaxy techniques

Abstract

Thin films of the high-temperature superconductor DyBa2Cu3O7−x have been grown on SrTiO3 substrates using molecular beam epitaxy techniques. Reflection high-energy electron diffraction patterns observed during deposition indicate incomplete oxidation of copper and growth of oriented metallic copper microcrystals in a matrix of amorphous barium and dysprosium oxides. After post-growth anneal the films exhibited sharp superconducting transitions with zero resistance observed as high as 89 K and critical current densities of 4.8×105 A/cm2 at 4.2 K and 3.9×104 A/cm2 at 77 K.