Epitaxial CeO2 films as buffer layers for high-temperature superconducting thin films

Abstract

We have prepared epitaxial (100)CeO2 thin films on LaAlO3, sapphire, and yttria-stabilized zirconia using pulsed laser deposition. It is demonstrated in this letter that the CeO2 films are chemically and structurally compatible to the high-temperature superconductor YBa2Cu3O7−δ (YBCO). Epitaxial YBCO films on CeO2/LaAlO3 had a zero resistance temperature and critical current density in a zero field of 90 K and 5.9×106 A/cm2 at 75 K, respectively. Furthermore, epitaxial multilayers of CeO2/YBCO were prepared. This work demonstrated that CeO2 is an excellent buffer layer material for the high-temperature superconductors.