Superconducting properties of nanostructured EuBa₂Cu₃O_7-δ+3.4vol%BHO films via transport measurements on chemically etched microbridges

To realize the potential of superconducting devices, carefully optimized fabrication processes are essential. In this paper, we report on microfabrication via a wet chemical etching process for superconducting films. The film comprised a superconducting EuBa₂Cu₃O_7-δ with 3.4vol% of insulating BaHfO₃ nanocolumns at nanoscale intercolumn spacings within the film. The superconducting properties were measured with patterned bridges of varying bridge widths of 25μm, 50μm, 75μm, 100μm, 150μm and 200μm. Electrical transport measurements show that onset of the superconducting transition for the etched bridges was unaffected by chemical etching and was within the experimental accuracy (Δ < 1 K). The critical currents I_c measured at 77K (1T - 7T) and 65 K (1T - 7T) show that the I_c results do not vary much for the same measurement temperature and magnetic field, for different bridge widths of the etched superconducting films, indicating that wet chemical etching microfabrication procedure adopted yields consistent results.