Structure of ultrathin heteroepitaxial superconducting YBa2Cu3O7x films

C. M. Schlepütz, M. Björck, E. Koller, S. A. Pauli, D. Martoccia, Ø. Fischer, and P. R. Willmott
Phys. Rev. B 81, 174520 – Published 20 May 2010

Abstract

The atomic structures of ultrathin YBa2Cu3O7x (YBCO) films on SrTiO3(001) (STO) and (LaxSr1x)(AlyTa1y)O3(001) (LSAT) were investigated with sub-Angstrom resolution using surface x-ray diffraction and the phase-retrieval direct-method difference map using the constraints of atomicity and film shift (DCAF). The model-independent electron densities which emerge from random initializations in DCAF are exceedingly stable. The films grow with a well-defined stacking sequence even when grown on substrates with mixed terrace termination. Only very minor out-of-plane deviations from bulk YBCO are observed in the film structures, although they are perfectly strained to the substrate and are therefore tetragonal. The films are superconducting, with critical temperatures for growth on STO and LSAT of 43 K and 70 K, respectively. These results have important implications for reliable structure determination of technologically relevant complex-metal oxide surfaces and interfaces.

  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
2 More
  • Received 5 February 2010

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.81.174520

©2010 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

C. M. Schlepütz1,*, M. Björck1,†, E. Koller2, S. A. Pauli1, D. Martoccia1, Ø. Fischer2, and P. R. Willmott1,‡

  • 1Swiss Light Source, Paul Scherrer Institut, CH-5232 Villigen, Switzerland
  • 2Département de Physique de la Matière Condensée, Université de Genève, Genève, Switzerland

  • *Present address: Department of Physics, University of Michigan, 450 Church Street, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1040, USA.
  • Present address: MAX-lab, Lund University, P.O. Box 118, SE-221 00 Lund, Sweden.
  • philip.willmott@psi.ch

Article Text (Subscription Required)

Click to Expand

References (Subscription Required)

Click to Expand
Issue

Vol. 81, Iss. 17 — 1 May 2010

Reuse & Permissions
Access Options
Author publication services for translation and copyediting assistance advertisement

Authorization Required


×
×

Images

×

Sign up to receive regular email alerts from Physical Review B

Log In

Cancel
×

Search


Article Lookup

Paste a citation or DOI

Enter a citation
×