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Published online by Cambridge University Press: 28 February 2011
Microchemical and microstructural characterization, using established SEM and STEM techniques, has shown that most (>90% of the area) of the Bi-Sr-Ca-Cu-O thin films prepared by reactive magnetron sputtering on both NaCl and MgO substrates in the (100) orientation is the superconducting phase Bi2 Sr2 CaCu2 O8 (2212); with largely defect free single crystal grains oriented with the a-b conduction planes parallel to the substrate. The geometrical interconnectivity is high and the grain boundaries are clean and well ordered without any intermediate layers to limit the superconductivity. There were also small patches (>10%) in which the Bi- and Cu-rich phases, Bi2 SrCuO5 and CuO, had separated. The films had an onset Tc at 115K with zero resistance at 85K and a Jc of 105A/cm2 at liquid He temperature.