LaMnO/sub 3/: a single oxide buffer layer for high-J/sub c/ YBa/sub 2/Cu/sub 3/O/sub 7-/spl delta// coated conductors

Single buffer layer of LaMnO/sub 3/ (LMO) has been epitaxially grown on biaxially textured Ni and Ni-alloy substrates by sputter deposition. The property characterizations revealed that LMO buffers can serve both as a chemical as well as a structural buffer for YBa/sub 2/Cu/sub 3/O/sub 7-/spl delta// (YBCO) films. Epitaxial YBCO films grown on LMO buffers using pulsed laser deposition (PLD) have self-field critical current densities (J/sub c/) exceeding 1 /spl times/ 10/sup 6/ A/cm/sup 2/ at 77 K. The present results have demonstrated the strong prospect of LMO for the practical development of YBCO coated conductors.