Preparation of Sm_1−xCa_xBiO₃buffer layers for coated conductor by polymer-assisted chemical solution deposition

Potential Sm_1−xCa_xBiO₃(x = 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, and 0.4) buffer layers for REBa₂Cu₃O_7−x(REBCO, RE = Y or Nd, Sm, Gd, Dy, etc) coated conductors (CCS) has been deposited on (00l) LaAlO₃substrate via a self-developed polymer-assisted chemical solution deposition (PA-CSD) route, and then studied by XRD, SEM, AFM and current-voltage (I–V) characteristics. Highly c-axis oriented, dense, smooth and crack-free buffer layers have been obtained. We found that its resistivity does not decrease obviously. The pseudo-cubic lattice parameter of Sm_1−xCa_xBiO₃matches well with the in-plan lattice parameters of corresponding REBCO compounds. YBCO superconducting epitaxial film with high performance is successfully deposited on Sm_0.6Ca_0.4BiO₃layer by dc sputtering. Our results offer a new avenue to search for better lattice matched buffer layer for CCS, particularly to REBCO.