Deposition of SmBCO superconducting films on Zr-rich BaZrO₃-buffered MgO substrates

Abstract

We deposited SmBCO thin films on BaZrO3 (BZO)-buffered MgO(100) substrates by an off-axis magnetron sputtering method. SmBCO films were deposited at a fixed condition on stoichiometric and Zr-rich BZO-buffered MgO substrates. We found that the crystal orientation of SmBCO films changed from a-axis to c-axis orientation by using Zr-rich BZO. We speculate that the reaction between excess Zr oxides on the buffered substrates and deposited species at the initial stage of the SmBCO deposition is important in inducing these phenomena.