Coordinated characterization of coated conductors (C/sup 4/)

Argonne National Laboratory, in collaboration with American Superconductor and SuperPower, Inc., has established/implemented a coordinated set of characterization methods for coated conductor specimens that can be applied in a manner compatible with further processing or utilization of the respective specimen. These characterization methods include measurements of superconductor transport properties, phase composition, microstructure, and epitaxy quality for YBCO coated conductors that range in size up to multi-meter-length tapes. Recent examinations involving the integrated application of magneto-optical imaging (MOI), Raman microspectroscopy, and focused-ion-beam-assisted transmission electron microscopy (TEM) to meter-length tapes have pinpointed specific microstructural and chemical defects that correlated with poor Ic performance.