Abstract
Oxide buffer layers for YBCO coated conductors were fabricated using MOD processing and development of microstructure and texture were investigated. A $CeO_2$ buffer layers were formed on RABiTS tape. Acetate-based precursor solution was employed to synthesize the precursor solution. Subsequently, the precursor solution was stabilized and modified with triethanolamine. $CeO_2$ precursor gel film was coated and annealed in $Ar/H_2$ atmosphere at high temperature. An annealed $CeO_2$ film shows mixed orientation with high (001) texturing. It was shown that (111) texture of $CeO_2$ layers were enhanced by multiple coating. This degradation was attributed to development of microcracks in the multiply coated $CeO_2$ films. Also discussed are the synthesis and the characterization of $La_2Zr_2O_7$ (LZO) buffer layers on RABiTS tape. A biaxially textured LZO buffer layer was fabricated with MOD processing method using metal alkoxide based precursor solution. It was shown that the LZO film were epitaxially grown on RABiTS tape and crack-free & uniform surface was obtained after annealing in $Ar/H_2$ atmosphere.