Application of electron backscatter diffraction in the SEM to textural problems of coated high-temperature superconductors

Abstract YBa2Cu3O7-δ (YBCO) is a high-temperature superconductor (HTS) with unique characteristics for use in electrical engineering. The structure and the transport properties of the cuprate superconductor are reviewed. The key issues in HTS wire technology, viz. texture tailoring and grain boundary engineering of the polycrystalline material to be used in technical devices, are discussed. A production route is described to fabricate long lengths of highly aligned YBCO films on cube-textured nickel and nickel alloy substrates. Electron backscatter diffraction in the scanning electron microscope is used to control the process → texture relationship in developing the sheet material as well as the epitaxy and phase stability of the YBCO film.