Preparation, Characterization and Room Temperature Electrochemical Response of Bi2Sr2CaCu2 O 8 Superconductor Microband Electrodes

Abstract

Fabrication of a well-behaved superconductor microband electrode fashioned from the edges of thin films of Bi2Sr2CaCu~O8 sandwiched between two insulating layers is demonstrated. In room temperature solutions of redox species, these microbands exhibit well-defined voltammograms and currents interpretable by standard microband electrode theory. The behavior of freshly cleaved electrodes indicates preparation of reasonably pristine surfaces. The new superconductor electrode geometry along with the recently reported fluid electrolyte cryosolvent will be useful in the context of future experiments with superconductor electrodes at temperatures below their T~ values. The first results for doublelayer capacitance of a superconductor/electrolyte solution interface are also provided. ) unless CC License in place (see abstract). ecsdl.org/site/terms_use address. Redistribution subject to ECS terms of use (see 128.192.114.19 Downloaded on 2015-06-20 to IP

Fabrication of Oxocuprate Superconductor Microelectrodes for Sub ‐ T c Use

“…Murray et al 6 used sputtered thin films of Bi2Sr2CaCu208 [Tc(onset) = ii0 K, Tc(zero) = 88 K] sandwiched between a MgO substrate and a deposited layer of A]203 to produce microband electrodes; results were presented for electrodes with widths as small as 3 txm. However, while near-ideal in behavior at room temperature, these electrodes have not yet been employed in measurements in the superconducting state, although Murray et al 7 have reported the formulation of a suitable liquid-electrolyte solution, persistent to 88 K. This group s had earlier reported a method of fabricating microelectrodes from bulk samples of YBa2Cu307 and Bi~Sr2CaCu2Os.…”