Texture development in Ba₂YCu₃O_7−x films from trifluoroacetate precursors

The effect of heat treatment on microstructure development in Ba₂YCu₃O_7−x films prepared from metal trifluoroacetate precursors is investigated. The growth of textured Ba₂YCu₃O_7−x on BaZrO₃ substrates is shown to be strongly influenced by the furnace atmosphere used during calcination. Differential thermal analysis was used to show that conditions that promote c-axis texture are also those which cause partial melting of Ba–Y–Cu–O compositions that are depleted in barium relative to Ba₂YCu₃O_7−x.