Growth and characterization of YbBCO films on textured Gd2O3 buffer-layered Ni tapes:: All sol-gel process

YbBa2Cu3O7-x (YbBCO) thick films were grown on buffered, cube-textured Nickel tapes by sol-gel dip-coating method. Yb-123 films were prepared using solutions of Yb, Ba, and Cu organometallic compounds. A solution-based Gd2O3 buffer layer was deposited by dip-coating process with excellent texture and uniformity. The texture development and surface morphology of the buffer-layer films were examined by X-ray diffraction, pole figures, and ESEM analysis. Microstructure and characterization of Yb-123 films were done by ESEM, EDS, and XRD analysis. T-c and J(c) were conducted by four-wire measurement method.