The Structural Evolution of $(\hbox{Gd}, \hbox{Y}) \hbox{Ba}_{2}\hbox{Cu}_{3}\hbox{O}_{\rm x}$ Tapes With Zr Addition Made by Metal Organic Chemical Vapor Deposition

Structural analysis of
$(\hbox{Gd}, \hbox{Y})\hbox{Ba}_{2}\hbox{Cu}_{3} \hbox{O}_{x}$
tapes with Zr addition made by metal organic chemical vapor deposition has been conducted with transmission electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. Zr content in the films was varied from 0 to 25
$\%$
in the precursor. In all Zr-doped films, self-assembled nanocolumnar structures of
$\hbox{BaZrO}_{3}$
(BZO) were observed along the
$c$
-axis. The amount of
$\hbox{BaZrO}_{3}$
was found to increase steadily with Zr content. Additionally, planar BZO plates were found on the (001) plane of
$(\hbox{Gd}, \hbox{Y})\hbox{Ba}_{2} \hbox{Cu}_{3}\hbox{O}_{x}$
film. The size and thickness of BZO plates were seen to increase with Zr doping level. Rare-earth copper oxide phases were observed to begin to emerge in the 20
$\%$
Zr-doped film. Cross-sectional study of the interface between
$(\hbox{Gd}, \hbox{Y})\hbox{Ba}_{2}\hbox{Cu}_{3}\hbox{O}_{\rm x}$
and
$\hbox{LaMnO}_{3}$
cap layer revealed a thin discrete BZO layer on the
$\hbox{LaMnO}_{3}$
in the 20
$\%$
Zr doped film.