Co-doping effects of Gd and Ag on YBCO films derived by metalorganic deposition

•MOD was employed to fabricate (YGd)BaCuO films together with Ag addition for the first time.•Better connectivity of grains was obtained by Ag addition.•Pyrolysis rate and surface morphology were able to be improved by Ag addition.•Gd substitution and relevant ion defects are emerged in the studied (YGd)BaCuO films.•Better c-axis orientation, superior surface microstructure and improved superconducting performance are obtained by co-doping of Gd and Ag.

Y1–xGdxBa2Cu3O7–δ-Ag (x = 0, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, 1) thin films were prepared on oxide buffered Hastelloy substrates by low fluorine metalorganic depostion (MOD) process. The effects of co-doping of Ag and Gd on the microstructures and superconducting properties of YBCO thin films are investigated with respect to improvement on texture and superconducting performance in case of optimized doping content. It is found that optimum addition of Ag and Gd may lead to better c-axis orientation, superior surface microstructure and finally give rise to much improvement of superconducting performance.