Formation processes of Bi-2212 films prepared on Ag(001) substrate by an atomization technique

We have studied in detail the growth of Bi-2212 ribbon-like thin film by melting Bi-2212 powders dispersed on flat, sputter-deposited Ag(0 0 1) films with order of tens of nm root-mean-square surface roughness. The formation processes of Bi-2212 ribbon-like thin films were studied by in situ high-temperature microscope observations. Because the powders melt incongruently, the liquid phase disperses with residual solid phases on the substrate, The residual solid phases act as the barrier for the melting phase to diffuse. Nearly monophasic Bi-2212 with excellent c-axis orientation in these thin films, proved by X-ray diffraction results, is the result of shortened diffusion length of the liquid phase. These techniques can be used especially to synthesize high quality Bi-based superconducting thin films for intrinsic Josephson junction devices. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.