The use of mild hydrothermal methods to synthesize vanadium oxides is reviewed, with particular emphasis on those with layer and 3-dimensional structures. A wide range of studies has been performed predominantly in the past decade to grow new materials that might have interesting electrochemical and magnetic properties. Most emphasis has been placed on vanadium oxides that contain organic species or simple cations such as the alkali metals, alkaline earths, zinc and copper. The key parameters determining the structures formed are reviewed, including pH and the organic structure-directing ion. Some initial electrochemical studies are described.

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Short segments of YBa2Cu3O7-y (YBCO) coated conductors were fabricated on rolling-assisted biaxially textured substrates (RABiTS) with a layer sequence of CeO2/YSZ/Ni using an ex situ BaF2 precursor process. Pulsed laser deposition (PLD) was used to deposit both YSZ and CeO2 layers. The YBCO films were grown using e-beam coevaporated Y–BaF2–Cu precursors followed by postannealing. An overall engineering current density, JE, of 28,000 A/cm2 and critical current, Ic, of 147 A/cm width at 77 K were achieved for a 1.6-μm-thick YBCO film. This result demonstrates the possibility of using both the ex situ BaF2 precursor approach and the RABiTS process for producing long lengths of high-JE coated conductors.

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