Preparation and crystalline qualities of SrTiO3 and CeO2 buffer layers fabricated on Ni substrates via a sol-gel method for YBCO coated conductors

High purity rolled Ni substrate was annealed at 1000 degreesC for 60 min to develop a cube texture with a full-width at half-maximum (FWHM) value of 5.26degrees. Strontium acetate, titanium (IV) butoxide, and inorganic cerium nitrite were used as the starting materials for fabrication of SrTiO3 and CeO2 buffer layers via a sol-gel method on the Ni substrate material. The results show that the heat treatment temperature and holding time affect both the surface morphology and the texture of the buffer layers. The SrTiO3 and CeO2 buffer layers grown on the Ni substrate show a sharp (200) orientation distribution. An intermediate layer was found between the SrTiO3 layer and the Ni substrate. By optimizing the heat treatment parameters, the omega-scan FWHM values can reach 5.31degrees and 6.60degrees for the SrTiO3 and CeO2 buffer layers, respectively. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.