Effect of substrate’s nature on the growth of HgBCCO thin films

The synthesis of HgBCCO films by spray pyrolysis on single crystals is investigated. It is shown that in conditions where the precursor is expected to give Hg-1223, Hg-1212 grows on LaAlO3 (0 0 1) while Hg-1223 grows on MgO (0 0 1). The samples are analysed by X-ray pole figures, SEM and critical current measurements. Both samples were superconducting but the sample on MgO had a negligible Ic while 17 A was measured on LAO at 77 K (sf). These differences are analysed in terms of texture and microstructure and some conclusions concerning the growth are drawn. On LAO, the nucleation is probably epitaxial and the anisotropy of the growth inhibits the transformation into Hg-1223 while some interfacial contribution expected to occur on MgO makes this transformation easier.