We have recently a two step process for the fabrication of Hg-based superconductive thin films with a record transition temperature above 120 K. The process is based on PLAD of an Hg-free precursor followed by ex-situ mercurization in sealed quartz tubes. Films have been characterized from both structural and electrical points of view, and the results have been correlated to the process parameters (namely, kind and temperature of the crystalline substrate, temperature and duration of the mercurization step).

Our finding demonstrate that our process is a viable route to fabrication of almost pure Hg-1212 films with superior performances (T_c above 120 K, J_c above 1 MA/cm² at 77 K), which can have great applicative relevance.

[M. Bindi, F. Fuso, N. Puccini, E. Arimondo, A. Tampieri, and G. Celotti, "Synthesis and charaterization of Hg-based superconducting thin films produc\ ed staring from laser deposited precursors", Int. J. Mod. Phys. B 14 2731 (2000).
M. Bindi, F. Fuso, E. Arimondo, A. Tampieri, and G. Celotti, and D. Rinaldi, " Fabrication and characterization of Hg-based superconductive thin films ", Physica C, in press (2002). ]

XRD patterns for Hg-based thin films deposited with different process parameters.

Magnetic measurements on Hg-based thin films deposited onto MgO and the derived critical current as a function of temperature.