Published online by Cambridge University Press: 26 February 2011
A technique is presented where Ag is initially sputter deposited on a single crystal ceramic substrate followed by in situ deposition of YBa2Cu3O7δ The resulting microstructure shows Ag islands amidst a c-axis oriented YBCO film, apparently with intimate contact between the YBCO and substrate. This morphology appears ideal for electrical contact to the {hko} surfaces of the superconductor with current carrying CuO planes in maximum contact with the Ag.