Properties of YBa/sub 2/Cu/sub 3/O/sub 7- delta / thin films grown on off-axis-cut MgO substrates

A series of YBa/sub 2/Cu/sub 3/O/sub 7- delta / films has been reactively sputtered on off-axis-cut MgO substrates. All the films were oriented with the c axis normal to the substrate regardless of substrate orientation, indicating that growth dynamics is a major factor influencing film orientation on nonlattice-matched substrates. As the substrate orientation was moved off the [100] direction, the films showed a decrease in transition temperature and showed properties indicative of an increased density of weak links. The films grown on high-angle substrates showed better properties than the films grown on low-angle substrates. Films grown on [110] MgO were as good as films grown on [100] MgO.