Published online by Cambridge University Press: 25 February 2011
We report epitaxial growth of the simple cubic perovskites Ba1-xKxBiO3 and Ba1-xRbxBiO3 on Ba3LaNb3O12, LiBaF3, BaF2, and Al2O3. Films with excellent crystallinity are obtained on the perovskite substrates, LiBaF3, and Ba3LaNb3O12. (1 1 1) or (1 1 0) films can be obtained on {1 1 1} BaF2, depending on the nucleation temperature. Non-epitaxial superconducting films have been grown on Si and on GaAs. At the low growth temperatures used (200–450°C), reactions with the substrates do not pose problems. The choice of substrate not only determines the microstructure of the film, but also plays a role in allowing the film to change its oxygen stoichiometry. Stoichiometry shifting is a pervasive necessity for the synthesis of high Tc thin films.