Fabrication of YBa2Cu3O7−y superconducting coatings by electrophoretic deposition

Coatings of YBa2Cu3O7−y were deposited by electrophoresis on Cu, Ag, polycrystalline Al2O3, and single‐crystal MgO and YSZ substrates. Acetone was used as the electrophoretic vehicle and a field of 500 V/cm was applied in the deposition process. The deposited coatings were fired in air at or above 900 °C. For coatings on Ag, MgO(Ag), and YSZ(Ag) substrates, sharp superconducting transitions at ∼90 K were obtained. Intermediate layers were formed on Cu, Al2O3(Al), and YSZ(Ag) substrates as a result of interfacial reactions during firing. The interfacial reactions affected the superconducting transition and also led to the development of a preferred orientation in the coating.