Properties of YNi2B2C superconducting thin films

High-quality, c-axis-oriented thin films of the intermetallic superconductor YNi2B2C were obtained in situ by magnetron sputtering on MgO and other substrates held at about T=800 °C. The best films showed a maximum of Tc =15.1 K with deltaTc=0.1 K. We report on structural and electrical film characterization including dc resistivity measurements up to 450 K as well as critical-field and critical-current measurements. Scanning tunnel microscope tunneling measurements were also performed, giving further evidence of the overall BCS nature of these compounds.