Fabrication of grain-aligned YBCO films using electrophoretic deposition in a magnetic field

Textured YBa 2Cu 3O 7− x films were fabricated by means of an electrophoretical deposition in an applied magnetic field. YBa 2Cu 3O 7− x superconducting particles were suspended in an electrolyte consisting of acetone and iodine. A DC voltage of 40 and 200 V was applied between the anode (Pt) and the cathode (Ag) in the colloid. A magnetic field up to 5 T was applied to the colloid bath using a superconducting magnet with a bore 100 mm in diameter. When a magnetic field was applied perpendicular to the elecrophoretic direction, X-ray diffraction patterns showed a c-axis alignment of the YBa 2Cu 3O 7− x films. The critical current of the films fabricated by the magnetic field assisted deposition was greater than that of a conventional process showing the advantage of this process.