Composite films combining electrospun fiber network and epitaxial oxide by chemical solution deposition

We report the preparation of a novel type of composites films by chemical solution deposition. It consists of an epitaxial oxide on a single crystal template inside which an oxide fiber network is dispersed. Electrospinning is used for the deposition of the fiber network whereas the continuous epitaxial phase is spin-coated. Good coating is observed between the liquid precursor of the continuous oxide and the fibers and remarkably, epitaxial (001) growth of the YBa2Cu3O7-x is not affected by the presence of the fiber network because both oxides do not react to each other. Topological continuity of the continuous phase is probed by electrical conductivity measurements, rendering nearly the same values reported for fiber-free films. Mechanical properties are determined by nanoindentation at low penetration depths to avoid the effect of the single crystal beneath the composite. Enhanced mechanical properties are found (hardness, Young's modulus, elastic recovery and wear resistance).