First observations of YBaCuO thin films by atomic force microscopy with conducting tips

Olivier Schneegans; Pascal Chretien; Eleonor Caristan; Frederic Houze; Annick Degardin; Alain J. Kreisler

doi:10.1117/12.335886

22 December 1998 First observations of YBaCuO thin films by atomic force microscopy with conducting tips

Olivier Schneegans, Pascal Chretien, Eleonor Caristan, Frederic Houze, Annick Degardin, Alain J. Kreisler

Proceedings Volume 3481, Superconducting and Related Oxides: Physics and Nanoengineering III; (1998) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.335886
Event: SPIE's International Symposium on Optical Science, Engineering, and Instrumentation, 1998, San Diego, CA, United States

Abstract

YBaCuO thin film surfaces have been studied with an original laboratory-made attachment associated with a commercial atomic force microscope. Using a doped silicon probe coated with doped diamond, we have obtained simultaneously topographical and local contact resistance surface images within a given area of the sample. YBaCuO films on various types of substrates were observed: polycrystalline yttria-doped zirconia (PYSZ), and MgO or SrTiO₃ single crystals. For YBaCuO films grown on PYSZ, the electrical image has clearly revealed the presence of electrical disconnection zones between grains, which correspond to grain boundary areas observed on the topographical image. The presence of such defects can explain the modest critical current density (J_c approximately equals 3 X 10⁴ A/cm² at 77 K) measured on these granular films. On the opposite, for films grown on single-crystal substrates, the electrically connected areas between grains are visible on the electrical images, that can be correlated to better electrical transport properties of the films. Moreover, island-shaped grains exhibiting terraces of one unit cell vertical height could be seen, on close inspection of films grown on PYSZ and MgO substrates. For YBaCuO elaborated on SrTiO₃ substrates, the observed grain structure rather exhibited a spiral shape.

Citation Download Citation

Olivier Schneegans, Pascal Chretien, Eleonor Caristan, Frederic Houze, Annick Degardin, and Alain J. Kreisler "First observations of YBaCuO thin films by atomic force microscopy with conducting tips", Proc. SPIE 3481, Superconducting and Related Oxides: Physics and Nanoengineering III, (22 December 1998); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.335886

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