Structural properties of Gold modified YBa2Cu3O7-δ thin films

YBa2Cu3O7-d thin films were prepared by pulsed laser deposition whereby single-crystalline Au nanoparticles were embedded via a self-assembly process out of an initial Au seed layer. The size of the Au nanoparticles was controlled via the initial Au seed layer thickness. During the growth of the YBa2Cu3O7-d matrix the nanoparticles are partly lifted on top of the YBa2Cu3O7-d thin film. The inclusion of nanoparticles thus offers the possibility of shunting thin contamination layers on top of the YBa2Cu3O7 thin film and even allows contact with the lower electrode in multilayer systems without using difficult etching methods. Using x-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy we show that the growth conditions of the YBa2Cu3O7 matrix are modified, resulting in less a-axis growth and an enhanced oxygen stoichiometry.