Large area YBaCuO and BSCCO coatings produced on different substrates by an electrophoretic deposition technique

Large area coatings up to 50 cm2 of the high temperatures superconductors YBa2Cu3O7−x (YBCO 123) and Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8+x (BSCCO 2212) have been produced by scaling up an electrophoretic deposition technique. Substrates, such as silver sheets, Si-wafers coated with Ag or Au and commercial Ni, Ti and stainless steel plates were used. Several parameters affecting the electrophoretic deposition of the produced superconducting powders on the tested substrates were investigated in order to obtain high deposition rates and uniform superconducting coatings with the proper stoichiometry. In addition, appropriate sintering and annealing procedures have been developed to get strongly adherent and dense coatings, without any interaction between the substrate and the superconducting powder. The suitability of the different substrates used, was tested by measuring the stoichiometry and the superconducting properties of the produced coatings by X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), Raman spectroscopy and magnetization measurements. The homogeneity and thickness of the coatings and the average grain size of the deposited particles were examined by optical and scanning electron microscopy (SEM).