Barrier efficiency of sponge-like La2Zr2O7 buffer layers for YBCO-coated conductors

TL;DR

This study investigates La2Zr2O7 films' microstructure and barrier properties, revealing sponge-like nanovoids and demonstrating effective nickel diffusion blocking, which enhances their potential as thermal barriers in coated conductors.

Contribution

It provides detailed 3D characterization of nanovoids in La2Zr2O7 films and evaluates their effectiveness as diffusion barriers for YBCO-coated conductors.

Findings

Nanovoids occupy over 20% of the film volume.

La2Zr2O7 acts as an effective nickel diffusion barrier.

Sponge-like nanostructure influences barrier performance.

Abstract

Solution derived La2Zr2O7 films have drawn much attention for potential applications as thermal barriers or low-cost buffer layers for coated conductor technology. Annealing and coating parameters strongly affect the microstructure of La2Zr2O7, but different film processing methods can yield similar microstructural features such as nanovoids and nanometer-sized La2Zr2O7 grains. Nanoporosity is a typical feature found in such films and the implications for the functionality of the films is investigated by a combination of scanning transmission electron microscopy, electron energy-loss spectroscopy and quantitative electron tomography. Chemical solution based La2Zr2O7 films deposited on flexible Ni-5at.%W substrates with a {100}<001> biaxial texture were prepared for an in-depth characterization. A sponge-like structure composed of nanometer sized voids is revealed by high-angle annular dark-field scanning transmission electron microscopy in combination with electron tomography. A three-dimensional quantification of nanovoids in the La2Zr2O7 film is obtained on a local scale. Mostly non-interconnected highly facetted nanovoids compromise more than one-fifth of the investigated sample volume. The diffusion barrier efficiency of a 170 nm thick La2Zr2O7 film is investigated by STEM-EELS yielding a 1.8 \pm 0.2 nm oxide layer beyond which no significant nickel diffusion can be detected and intermixing is observed. This is of particular significance for the functionality of YBa2Cu3O7-{\delta} coated conductor architectures based on solution derived La2Zr2O7 films as diffusion barriers.