In situ film deposition of superconducting borocarbides

The recently discovered intermetallic superconducting compounds with the general formula REM2B2C (M = Pd, Ni, Pt and RE = Y + rare earths) present a record critical temperature for intermetallic compounds and other interesting properties related to the anisotropic layered structure and to an intriguing interplay between superconductivity and magnetism when RE is magnetic. Here we present the results of a wide collaboration between differ ent groups of physicists and chemists that allowed the preparation of in situ thin films by two different techniques, namely the magnetron sputtering technique of nonmagnetic YNi2B2C and the high vacuum laser ablation for YNi2B2C and for magnetic ErNi2B2C and HoNi2B2C. The best results were obtained on MgO substrates, but superconducting films of lower quality were also obtained on sapphire and LaAlO3 substrates. PACS 74.76 - Superconducting films. PACS 01.30.Cc - Conference proceedings.