Excimer laser surface treatment of high-Tc superconductive ceramic layered plasma-sprayed silver plates

High temperature superconductive ceramic coatings of the Y(Ba,K)2Cu3O7 compound were plasma-sprayed on a silver substrate and these coated plates were subsequently surface treated by an excimer laser. The effect of the excimer laser irradiation and the subsequent heat treatment on the main features of the coated surface was evaluated in terms of surface modifications, microstructural and crystallographic/stoichiometric changes and electrical/magnetic properties of the superconductive compounds. Superconductivity was enhanced after the post-processing heat treatment.