Investigation of (Y,Gd)Ba₂Cu₃O_7-x grown by MOCVD on a simplified IBAD MgO template

We have used an ion beam sputtered Y₂O₃-Al ₂O₃ (YALO) composite to simplify the architecture of high temperature superconducting (HTS) coated conductors (CCs) based on a IBAD MgO template. By implementing YALO, we have reduced the total non-superconducting layers between the polycrystalline metal substrate and the superconducting film from five (the standard architecture) to four. Well textured (Y,Gd)Ba ₂Cu₃O_7-x ((Y, Gd)BCO) films have been successfully grown by MOCVD on this simplified template. The microstructural characterization revealed that all layers are continuous and uniform with sharp and clean interfaces. Additionally, the YALO maintained its amorphous nature after the deposition of the superconductive layer, which is a plus in terms of its efficiency as a diffusion barrier. The achievement of a self-field critical current of 230 Acm^-1 at 75.5K is another proof of the effectiveness of YALO as a diffusion barrier and nucleation seed for the MgO. The transport properties under an applied magnetic field of MOCVD grown (Y, Gd)BCO on LMO buffered MgO/YALO/Ni-alloy are comparable with those of (Y, Gd)BCO on a standard architecture, thus demonstrating good compatibility between the simplified template with the MOCVD grown (Y, Gd)BCO. The use of a single composite YALO layer instead of individual layers of Y₂O₃ and Al ₂O₃ for the large scale fabrication of HTS CCs based on IBAD MgO provides advantages such as potentially reduced cost due to the reduced number of fabrication steps.