Synthesis of Superconducting Thin Films of Magnesium Diboride by Electroless Plating

摘要

Superconducting thin films of magnesium diboride have been synthesized on copper substrates using a novel electroless plating technique. The microstructure and superconductivity have been characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and temperature-dependent magnetometry. XRD measurements confirm that the films are crystalline MgB_2 with some impurity phases, including MgB_4 and Mg_2B_2O_5. Clear evidence for a superconducting transition in the magnetization measurements was observed. If the film quality can be further improved, electroless plating can be a viable option for producing superconducting MgB_2 films inexpensively on a wide variety of substrates.