Effect of Gadolinium substitutions in La2Zr2O7 films grown on textured Ni-5at.%W substrate by chemical solution deposition

In the YBa2Cu3O7−x coated conductor, the buffer layer is crucial for the texture transfer from the Ni-5%W substrate to the superconducting layer. We developed original La2−xGdxZr2O7 buffer layers (x ≤ 1) by chemical solution deposition to decrease the structure mismatch between the substrate and the buffer layer. They show a strong cube texture up to the surface, a crack free surface and a very low roughness. In conclusion, the La2-xGdxZr2O7 layers with 0.4 < x < 0.9 are promising and should be employed in the future as buffer layer in coated conductor to replace La2Zr2O7 buffer layer.