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Superconductivity in Nonsymmetric Epitaxial YBa2Cu3O7−δ - PrBa2Cu3O7−δ Superlattices Grown by Pulsed Laser Ablation

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  16 February 2011

Douglas H. Lowndes ,
David P. Norton ,
J. D. Budai ,
S. J. Pennycook ,
D. K. Christen ,
B. C. Sales  and
R. Feenstra
Douglas H. Lowndes
Affiliation:
Solid State Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, P. O. Box 2008, Oak Ridge, TN 37831-6056
David P. Norton
Affiliation:
Solid State Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, P. O. Box 2008, Oak Ridge, TN 37831-6056
J. D. Budai
Affiliation:
Solid State Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, P. O. Box 2008, Oak Ridge, TN 37831-6056
S. J. Pennycook
Affiliation:
Solid State Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, P. O. Box 2008, Oak Ridge, TN 37831-6056
D. K. Christen
Affiliation:
Solid State Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, P. O. Box 2008, Oak Ridge, TN 37831-6056
B. C. Sales
Affiliation:
Solid State Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, P. O. Box 2008, Oak Ridge, TN 37831-6056
R. Feenstra
Affiliation:
Solid State Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, P. O. Box 2008, Oak Ridge, TN 37831-6056
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Abstract

Pulsed KrF (248 nm) excimer laser ablation has been used to grow nonsymmetric epitaxial YBCO/PrBCO superlattices containing 1-, 2-, 3-, 4-, and 8-unit-cell-thick YBCO layers, separated by N-cell-thick insulating PrBCO layers (N = 1–16). The 1×N and 2×N structures exhibit a rapid initial decrease of Tco with increasing PrBCO layer thickness, followed by saturation of Tco at a nonzero value, as the YBCO layers' separation is increased further. The limiting Tco values for 1-, 2-, 3-, 4-, and 8-cell-thick YBCO layers isolated in a PrBCO matrix are ∼19 K, ∼54 K, ∼71 K, ∼80 K, and ∼87 K, respectively. Single-cell-thick YBCO layers are found to be superconducting even when separated by ∼19 nm in a PrBCO matrix. These results are discussed in terms of possible Josephson and/or proximity effects coupling the YBCO layers, and the possibility that PrBCO modifies the electronic structure and depresses Tco in YBCO cells that are immediately adjacent to the PrBCO layers. Finally, high-temperature postannealing studies show that these superlattice structures are stable and that little diffusion occurs along the c-axis direction of compositional modulation.

Type
Research Article
Information
MRS Online Proceedings Library (OPL) , Volume 191: Symposium N – Laser Ablation for Materials Synthesis , 1990 , 153
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 1990

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References

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