High performance YBCO films by the hybrid of non-fluorine yttrium and copper salts with Ba-TFA

High performance YBCO films have been fabricated using a metallorganic deposition (MOD) approach consisting of a hybrid of Ba-trifluoroacetate (Ba-TFA) with non-fluorine containing Cu and Y solution precursors on rolling-assisted-biaxially-textured substrates (RABiTS). A high Jc of 2.4 MA/cm2 at 77 K for 0.6 μm YBCO films on RABiTS corresponding to an Ic over 140 A/cm-w was obtained. Tc measurements showed sharp transitions with zero resistance above 90 K. Extrapolation of the normal state resistivity results in an intercept below zero at 0 K, indicating the absence of second phases at grain boundaries. This first report on obtaining high Jc with significantly reduced fluorine in the precursor is important for scale-up to manufacturing since the volume of corrosive hydrofluoric gas (HF), which is a by-product of the conversion, is greatly reduced.