Microstructures of YBa2Cu3Oy Layers Deposited on Conductive Layer-Buffered Metal Tapes

REBa2Cu3Oy (REBCO; RE: rare-earth elements)-coated conductors (CCs) have high potential for use in superconducting devices. In particular, REBCO CCs are useful for superconducting devices working at relatively high temperatures near 77 K. The important issues in their applications are high performance, reliability and low cost. To date, sufficient performance for some applications has almost been achieved by considerable efforts. The establishment of the reliability of superconducting devices is under way at present. The issue of low cost must be resolved to realize the application of superconducting devices in the near future. Therefore, we have attempted several ways to reduce the cost of REBCO CCs. The coated conductors using a Nb-doped SrTiO3 buffer layer and Ni-plated Cu and stainless steel laminate metal tapes have recently been developed to eliminate the use of electric stabilization layers of Cu and Ag, which are expected to reduce the material cost. Good superconducting properties are obtained at 77 K. The critical current density (JC) at 77 K under a magnetic self-field is determined to be more than 2x106 A/cm2. The microstructures of the CCs are analyzed by transmission electron microscopy to obtain a much higher quality. By microscopic structure analysis, an overgrowth of the buffer layer is observed at a grain boundary of the metal substrate, which is one of the reasons for the high JC.