Synthesis of Bi-2212 ribbon-like thin films on flat Ag substrates

Using (Bi,Pb)-2223 pellets, with nominal composition of Bi1.8Pb0.34Sr1.9Ca2Cu3O8+delta, as starting materials, nearly phase-pure and highly c-axis oriented Bi-2212 ribbon-like thin films were synthesized on flat Ag thin films with tens nm order of root-mean-square surface roughness. The melting growth processes of Bi-2212 ribbon-like thin films were studied by in situ high-temperature microscope observations. A thin liquid layer spread mechanism of the growth of ribbon-like thin films was revealed. The addition of Pb to the starting materials increases the wettability of melting phase on the Ag thin films surface and facilitates the growth of Bi-2212 ribbon-like thin films. Excess Ca and Cu in starting materials sufficiently suppress the formation of Bi-2201 phase in the ribbon-like thin films. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.