Molten Salt Electrodeposition of High Temperature Superconductors
Abstract
The overall objective of this project was to develop a process for direct electrodeposition of Y-Ba-Cu superconducting oxides from a molten salt at relatively low temperatures (300-550 deg C). An important finding was that cathodic deposition of metallic oxides, rather than free metals, generally occurs from nitrate melts, apparently via reduction of metal nitrato complexes. Oxide deposition was confirmed for Cu as CuO, Y as Y203, and Co as Co304, and apparently also occurs for Ba. Deposition of mixed Ba-Y-Cu oxides was demonstrated on both Cu and Pt substrates. Data were compiled that provide a good basis for designing schemes for deposition of various mixed oxides from nitrate melts. A sequential anodic injection method was conceived for depositing ultrathin mixed oxide layers, which can be viewed as an analog of molecular beam epitaxy. Results obtained with this approach were encouraging but were inconclusive because of contamination with Gd from the Y injection anode. Based on the results of this program and literature studies, cathodic metal oxide deposition from nitrate melts is a general phenomenon that could ultimately prove to be a practical means of preparing a variety of single and mixed anhydrous metal oxide films. It is recommended that future work focus initially on deposition of perovskite materials, which are of considerable practical interest and involve only two metallic components so that the required deposition schemes are inherently simpler.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 01, 1993
- Accession Number
- ADA266620
Entities
People
- D. M. Tench
- M. W. Kendig
- S. Jeanjaquet