Conductive buffer layers and overlayers for the thermal stability of coated conductors

We analyze fundamental issues related to the thermal and electrical stability of a coated conductor during its operation. We address the role of conductive buffer layers in the stability of Ni-based coated conductors, and the effect of a metallic cap layer on the electrical properties of Ni alloy-based superconducting tapes. For the first case we report on the fabrication of a fully conductive RABiTS architecture formed of bilayers of conductive oxides SrRuO/sub 3/ and LaNiO/sub 3/ on textured Ni tapes. For the second case we discuss measurements of current-voltage relations on Ag/YBa/sub 2/Cu/sub 3/O/sub 7-/spl delta// and Cu/Ag/YBa/sub 2/Cu/sub 3/O/sub 7-/spl delta// prototype multilayers on insulating substrates. Limitations on the overall tape structure and properties that are posed by the stability requirement are presented.