Abstract

YBa₂Cu₃O_7 − x thick films (∼40 µm) have been prepared by electrodeposition using reduced SrTiO_3 − x as a substrate. The process consists of three main steps. The first step is the reduction of a SrTiO₃ single-crystal at high temperature. This generates a conducting substrate, which can be used as a cathode in a three-electrode electrochemical cell. The second step is the co-electrodeposition of Y³⁺, Ba²⁺, and Cu²⁺. This produces a precursor film with a mixture of the elements on the atomic scale. The final step is the oxidation of the precursor film at high temperature. This produces the desired superconducting phase and re-oxidizes the SrTiO_3 − x. Thus, we have successfully electrodeposited a superconducting film on an insulating substrate (E. Morán, M. Á. Alario-Franco and M. S. Martín-González, Spanish Patent P9802655, 1998).