Particulate-free a-YBa2Cu3O7−x/La0.5Sr0.5CoO3/a-YBa2Cu3O7−x sandwiched thin film on (100)SrTiO3 fabricated by pulsed laser deposition with a shadow mask

Abstract By placing a shadow mask between the target material and substrate, particulate-free YBa 2 Cu 3 O 7− x and La 0.5 Sr 0.5 CoO 3 thin films were deposited by pulsed laser deposition (PLD). The self-template method was employed to grow a -axis oriented YBCO films. It was found that the YBCO film deposited directly on (100)SrTiO 3 was composed of both a - and c -axis oriented parts. Using a thin layer of LSCO as a buffer layer, however, pure a -axis oriented YBCO film can be grown on LSCO/(100)STO.