Electrodeposition of biaxially textured nickel substrates for coated conductor by magnetic texturing

Abstract

An innovative method to fabricate biaxially textured nickel substrates applicable to coated conductor is developed. This method used the industrially scalable electrodeposition method combined with external magnetic field. The biaxially textured Ni layer was formed by electrodeposition process under external magnetic field. The electrodeposited Ni substrate has been characterized by means of X-ray diffraction and shows well-developed biaxial texture (Deltatheta similar to 7.29degrees, Deltaphi similar to 8.14degrees). A CeO2 buffer layer was epitaxially grown on the electrodeposited Ni substrates subsequently by thermal evaporation. In addition, a continuous processing of long tape was tried to test the compatibility of electrodeposition with further scale-up. The grown 20 cm-long Ni tape shows good crystallinity but non-uniform texture. Pinhole-free and smooth surface was obtained by additives and electropolishing. The magnetic texturing in the electrodeposition process offers a simple and economical way to quasi -single-crystalline metal substrates suitable for coated conductor. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V.. All rights reserved.