Substrate-mediated control of the microstructure of YBa2Cu3O7-delta thin films

We have studied the surface of vicinal SrTiO3(001) substrates and thereon deposited YBa2Cu3O7-delta (YBCO) thin films by UHV-scanning tunneling microscopy (STM). We discuss the influence of the uniformity of substrate terraces on film growth. STM images indicate, that a combination of island and step-flow growth occurs on 1.2 degrees miscut SrTiO3. In particular, a regular nanoscale step structure of a 10 degrees miscut SrTiO3 surface generates an almost periodic surface structure of the YBCO films. Our findings indicate that a substrate-mediated control of the surface structure of YBCO films can be achieved.