Low-cost architecture for iron-based coated conductors.

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Condensed Matter Physics
• Superconductivity

Background:

• Traditional iron-based coated conductors (IBS-CC) often require complex multilayered architectures.
• Milder template crystalline quality requirements for IBS-CC materials allow for simplified designs.
• A single buffer layer can suffice for protection and oriented growth of superconducting films.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the feasibility of a simplified IBS-CC architecture using a single buffer layer.
• To prepare and characterize iron-based superconducting films grown on chemically deposited buffer layers.
• To analyze the current transport properties of these simplified IBS-CCs.

Main Methods:

• Pulsed Laser Deposition (PLD) was employed to grow Fe(Se,Te) films.
• A single, chemically deposited CeO₂-based buffer layer was used on commercial tapes.
• Characterization included analysis of the buffer layer and detailed study of Fe(Se,Te) current transport properties.

Main Results:

• Superconducting transitions were observed with a critical temperature (T_c⁰) around 12 K.
• Critical current densities (J_c) reached approximately 0.1 MA cm^-2 at 4.2 K and zero magnetic field.
• The CeO₂-based buffer layer effectively promoted oriented growth of the superconducting film.

Conclusions:

• A simplified IBS-CC design utilizing a single chemical buffer layer is achievable.
• This approach offers a pathway towards low-cost production of high-performance superconducting tapes.
• The developed Fe(Se,Te) films exhibit promising superconducting properties suitable for various applications.