Conductive polymer / high-T_c superconductor bilayer structures

Electrochemical techniques are exploited to fabricate conductive polymer/high-T_c superconductor bilayer structures. Scanning electron microscopy, x-ray fluorescence and electrochemical techniques are utilized to characterize the electrodeposition of polypyrrole layers grown onto oriented YBa₂Cu₃O₇ thin films. In such hybrid polymer/superconductor systems, it is found that when the polymer is oxidized to its conductive state, the transition temperature (T_c) and critical current (J_c) of the underlying superconductor film are suppressed. Here described are new methods for the fabrication of superconductor thin film layers which possess multiple points of weak electrical contact. Such weak links are very susceptible to the influence of external forces making them well suited for the creation of hybrid polymer/superconductor structures. Moreover, measurements recorded as a function of temperature of the polymer/superconductor interface resistance show dramatic decreases in resistivity at T_c. Collectively, these results are consistent with observations of conductive polymer proximity effects.