Inkjet printing, pyrolysis and crystallization of YBa₂Cu₃O₇-δ precursor layers for fully chemical solution deposited coated conductors

AbstractA complete reaction path for the pyrolysis of trifluoroacetate-derived YBa2Cu3O7-! precursor solution is reported based on the authors’ investigations of the separate trifluoroacetate salt decompositions using thermal analysis and infrared spectroscopy of evolved gases. Optimal conditions for the pyrolysis of inkjet printed films are proposed, and the influence of pyrolysis on the YBa2Cu3O7-! crystal growth on a fully buffered Ni-5%W substrate is revealed. Optimisation of the annealing step revealed a strong dependence of the superconducting properties on the heat treatment temperature and duration. The critical temperature (Tc) and critical current density (Jc) of fully chemical solution deposited coated conductor samples were examined by means of inductive and Hall probe measurements

Nano metal fluorides: small particles with great properties

The recently developed fluorolytic sol–gel route to metal fluorides opens a very broad range of both scientific and technical applications of the accessible high surface area metal fluorides, many of which have already been applied or tested. Specific chemical properties such as high Lewis acidity and physical properties such as high surface area, mesoporosity and nanosize as well as the possibility to apply metal fluorides on surfaces via a non-aqueous sol make the fluorolytic synthesis route a very versatile one. The scope of its scientific and technical use and the state of the art are presented.Peer Reviewe