Pre-oxidized cube textured nickel tapes for YBa2Cu3Ox coated conductors

Abstract A homogeneous nickel oxide film epitaxially grown on cube textured nickel tapes was prepared as a first buffer layer for subsequent buffer and YBa 2 Cu 3 O x (YBCO) layer depositions. The nickel oxide film was produced under growth conditions of surface oxidation epitaxy (SOE). The preparation of homogeneous oxide films by SOE with a high texture quality and without disturbing columnar oxide growth succeeded on micro-alloyed nickel tapes. Cerium, yttrium and silver are proven beneficial elements for micro-alloying in this respect. In silver doped metallic substrates, the cube oriented grains were produced with an increased grain aspect ratio, which was transferred to the SOE nickel oxide. Increased transport currents in the YBCO coatings were measured in the longitudinal direction of the tapes, which were coated with an additional system of buffer layers. The critical current density reached up to J c  = 2.35 MA/cm 2 at 77 K in self field.