Growth of all-chemical high critical current YBa2Cu3O7−δ thick films and coated conductors

The achievement of high critical currents in 'all-chemical' YBa2Cu3O7−δ thick films from low cost and versatile chemical solution deposition (CSD) methodology is still an open issue. Here we report a study of the nucleation and growth conditions to achieve YBa2Cu3O7−δ films in excess of 1 micron using single pass inkjet printing or multideposition of low-fluorine metalorganic precursors. Growth conditions of thick YBa2Cu3O7−δ layers are first investigated on LaAlO3, where there is no interfacial chemical reactivity. The second architecture investigated is an 'all-chemical' CSDCe0.9Zr0.1O2(CZO)/YSZ multilayer on single crystal substrates which serves as model system for coated conductors. Finally, the 'all-chemical' coated conductor architecture CSDYBa2Cu3O7/CSDCZO/ABADYSZ/stainless steel, where ABAD stands for alternating beam assisted deposition, is investigated. The nucleation conditions of YBa2Cu3O7−δ films on top of CΖΟ cap layers have been selected to minimize the formation of the BaCeO3 phase at the interface. We demonstrate that by combining the use of Ag additives in the starting YBCO solution and processing conditions leading to low supersaturation (high water pressure and low temperature) we can achieve ~1 μm thick YBa2Cu3O7−δ films and coated conductors with high critical currents of ${{I}_{c}}^{sf}$ = 390 and 100 A/cm-w, respectively, at 77 K and self-field. The achieved control of the interfacial reactivity with CeO2 cap layers opens a route for further increasing film thickness and critical currents in 'all-chemical' YBa2Cu3O7−δ coated conductors.All authors acknowledge the EU (EU-FP7 NMP-LA-2012-280432 EUROTAPES project and H2020-NMBP-18-2016-IA-72109 FASTGRID project), COST CA16218 NANOCOHYBRY, MINECO (COACHSUPENERGY, MAT2014-51778-C2-1-R and SUPERINKS) and Generalitat de Catalunya (2017SGR 1519 and Xarmae). ICMAB acknowledges the Center of Excellence award Severo Ochoa SEV-2015-0496. Special thanks are given to Bruker HTS Company from Germany for providing the ABADYSZ/SS metallic substrates.Peer reviewe