REBCO superconductors by pulsed laser deposition: Key innovations and large-scale applications

The rapid advancement of second-generation high-temperature superconductors, especially REBCO materials, underpins innovations in energy, medicine, and transport. Pulsed laser deposition (PLD) stands out as a premier method for producing high-quality REBCO thin films with controlled composition and microstructure-crucial for achieving high critical current density (Jc) and temperature (Tc). This review synthesizes recent progress in PLD-grown REBCO films, detailing how parameters such as laser energy, deposition temperature, background pressure, and substrate design influence superconducting performance. Special attention is given to nanoengineering, doping, and multilayer techniques that enhance flux pinning, as well as innovations in PLD setups-including multi-beam and high-rate processes-to enable industrial-scale production. The review also discusses the integration of artificial intelligence and machine learning for optimizing film properties and accelerating discovery. By comparing strategies and results from academia and industry, this work provides a comprehensive roadmap for advancing PLD-based REBCO superconductor technology.