Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Electrochemical oxidation of La2CuO4 thin films grown by molecular beam epitaxy

  • Rapid Communication
  • Published:
Applied Physics A Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Thin insulating and c-axis oriented films of La2CuO4 are grown using a molecular beam epitaxy technique. Subsequently, these films are oxidized electrochemically using a 1N KOH solution. This approach is used to induce superconductivity, leading to a maximum Tc0 of 31 K,, measured both resistively and inductively. The surface morphology, lattice constants and the resistivity before and after the electrochemical treatment are compared.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. For the properties of cuprate superconductors as electrodes see: J.T. McDevitt, R.W. Murray, S.J. Shah: J. Electrochem. Soc. 138, 1346 (1991)

    Google Scholar 

  2. D.R. Riley, J.T. McDevitt: J. Electrochem. Soc. 139, 2340 (1992)

    Google Scholar 

  3. M.T. San José, A.M. Espinosa, M.L. Tascon; M.D. Vázqzez, P. Sánchez Batanero: Electrochimica Acta, 36, 1209 (1991)

    Google Scholar 

  4. U. Barsch, F. Beck: Electrochimica Acta 35, 759 (1990)

    Google Scholar 

  5. J. Rosamilia, B. Miller: J. Electroanal. Chem. 291, 163 (1990)

    Google Scholar 

  6. J.M. Rosamilia, L.G. Schneemeyer, T.Y. Kometani, J.V. Waszczak, B. Miller: J. Electrochem. Soc. 136, 2300 (1989)

    Google Scholar 

  7. For the photoelectrichal properties see: M. Hampel, E.W. Grabner, R. Schneider: Electrochimica Acta 35, 1977 (1990)

    Google Scholar 

  8. S.K. Srivastava, B. Roas, K. Jüttner: Electrochimica Acta 35, 1219 (1990)

    Google Scholar 

  9. For the low-temperature properties of electrolyte-super-conductor contacts see: I. Engelhardt, R. Speck, J. Inche, H.S. Khalil, M. Ebert, W.J. Lorenz, G. Saemann-Ischenko, M.W. Breiter: Electrochimica Acta 37, 2129 (1992)

    Google Scholar 

  10. Kuznetsov: J. Electroanal. Chem. 278, 1 (1990)

    Google Scholar 

  11. J.O.'M. Bockris, J. Wass: J. Electroanal. Chem. 267, 329 (1989)

    Google Scholar 

  12. Pinkowski, J. Doneit, K. Jüttner, W.J. Lorenz, G. Saemann-Ischenko, T. Zetterer, M. Breiter: Electrochim. Acta 34, 1113 (1989)

    Google Scholar 

  13. Pinkowski, K. Jüttner, W.J. Lorenz, G. Saemann-Ischenko, M.W. Breiter: J. Electroanal. Chem. 286, 253 (1990)

    Google Scholar 

  14. Pinkowski, K. Jüttner, W.J. Lorenz: J. Electroanal. Chem. 287, 203 (1990)

    Google Scholar 

  15. J.-C. Grenier, A. Wattiaux, N. Lagueyte, J.C. Park, E. Marquestaut, J. Etourneau, M. Pouchard: Physica C 173, 139 (1991)

    Google Scholar 

  16. A. Wattiaux, J.C. Park J.-C. Grenier, M. Pouchard: C.R. Acad. Sci., Série II, Paris 310, 1047 (1990)

    Google Scholar 

  17. N. Lagueyte, A. Wattiaux, J.C. Park, J.-C. Grenier, L. Fournes, M. Pouchard: J. Phys. III (Paris) France 1, 1755 (1991)

    Google Scholar 

  18. J.C. Bennett, M. Olfert, G.A. Scholz, F.W. Boswell: Phys. Rev. B 44, 2727 (1991)

    Google Scholar 

  19. P. Rudolf, W. Paulus, R. Schöllhorn: Adv. Mater. 3, 438 (1991)

    Google Scholar 

  20. R. Suryanarayanan, O. Gorochov, M.R.S. Rao, L. Ouhammou, W. Paulus, G. Heger: Physica C 185–189, 572 (1991)

    Google Scholar 

  21. J.G. Bednorz, K.A. Müller: Z. Phys. B 64, 189 (1986)

    Google Scholar 

  22. J.D. Jorgensen, B. Dabrowski, Shiyou Pei, D.G. Hinks, L. Soderholm, B. Morosin, J.E. Schriber, E.L. Venturi, D.S. Ginsley: Phys. Rev. B 42, 6172 (1988)

    Google Scholar 

  23. C. Chaillout, J. Chevanas, S.W. Cheong, Z. Fisk, M. Marezio, B. Morosin, J.E. Schirber: Physica C 170, 87 (1990)

    Google Scholar 

  24. D.C. Johnston, J.P. Stokes, D.P. Goshorn, J.T. Lewandowski: Phys. Rev. B 36, 4007 (1987)

    Google Scholar 

  25. G. Demazeau, F. Tresse, T. Plant, B. Chevalier, J. Etourneau, C. Michel, M. Hervieu, B. Raveau, P. Lejay, A. Sulpice, R. Tournier: Physica C 153, 824 (1988)

    Google Scholar 

  26. B.G. Bagley, L.H. Greene, J.M. Tarascon, G.W. Hull: Appl. Phys. Lett. 51, 622 (1987)

    Google Scholar 

  27. As an example for the YBa2Cu3O7 superconductor the oxygen diffusion coefficient along the c-axis is 100 to 1000 times smaller than in the ab-plane

  28. J.-C. Grenier, A. Wattiaux: Private communication

  29. J.-P. Locquet, E. Mächler, Y. Jaccard, C. Gerberg, A. Catana, ø. Fisher, P. Martinoli: Summary presented at the E-MRS 1992 Fall Meeting: E-MRS-MatTech-f.e.m.s Joint Conf.: 3rd Europ. East-West Conf. on Mater. and Processes, in Strasbourg, France, Nov. 3–6, 1992

  30. J.-P. Locquet, E. Mächler: J. Vac. Sci. Technol. A 10, 3100 (1992)

    Google Scholar 

  31. The AFM instrument is a Nanoscope III (Digital Instruments)

  32. J.-P. Locquet, Y. Jaccard, C. Gerber, E. Mächler: Appl. Phys. Lett. (to be published)

  33. B. Jeanneret, J.L. Gavilano, G.A. Racine, C. Leeman, P. Martinoli: Appl. Phys. Lett 55, 2336 (1989)

    Google Scholar 

  34. N. Lagueyte: Dissertation, Université de Bordeaux, France (1992)

  35. J.-C. Grenier, N. Lagueyte, A. Wattiaux, J.-P. Doumerc, P. Dordor, J. Etourneau, M. Pouchard: Physica C 292, 209 (1992)

    Google Scholar 

  36. Such low resistivity values have been reported for the La2−xSrxCuO4 system with Sr concentrations close to x ≈ 0.30, for instance, by T. Ito, Y. Nakamura, H. Takagi, S. Ushida, Physica C 185–189, 1267 (1991)

  37. See various contributions in the Proc. 6th Int'l Conf. on Scanning Tunneling Microscopy, Interlaken, Switzerland, 12–16 August 1991: Ultramicroscopy 42–44 (1992)

  38. R. Wiesendanger, H.-J. Güntherodt (eds.): Scanning Tunneling Microscopy II, Springer Ser. Surf. Sci., Vol.28 (Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg 1992) Chap.2

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. IBM Research Division, Zürich Research Laboratory, CH-8803, Rüschlikon, Switzerland

    Jean-Pierre Locquet, Christoph Gerber, Andreas Cretton, Yvan Jaccard, Erica Williams & Erich Mächler

  2. D.M.P.C, Univerité de Genève, CH-1211, Genève, Switzerland

    Andreas Cretton & Erica Williams

  3. Institut de Physique, Université de Neuchâtel, CH-2000, Switzerland

    Yvan Jaccard

Authors
  1. Jean-Pierre Locquet
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Christoph Gerber
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Andreas Cretton
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Yvan Jaccard
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Erica Williams
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Erich Mächler
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Locquet, JP., Gerber, C., Cretton, A. et al. Electrochemical oxidation of La2CuO4 thin films grown by molecular beam epitaxy. Appl. Phys. A 57, 211–215 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00331448

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00331448

PACS

Search

Navigation