YBCO thin films on CeO2 buffered silver substrates

CeO(2) was deposited on silver substrates by the chemical solution deposition method. Silver was dipped into a 0.05 M Ce(NO(3))(3) solution, dried in air and then annealed in air at 900 degrees C for 30 minutes. The CeO(2) buffer layer was characterized by X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. YBCO was deposited onto the buffered substrate via screen printing. The YBCO films where sintered at temperatures of 880 degrees C and 890 degrees C. Dense and crack free YBCO layers were obtained with transition temperatures (T(c0)) up to 83 K. Characterization of the superconducting film was performed by X - ray diffraction and SEM.