Anisotropic c-axis pinning in interfacial self-assembled nanostructured trifluoracetate-YBa2Cu3O7−x films

An all chemical route has been used to produce substrates—nanostructured by self-assembled oxide nanoislands—and to grow YBa2Cu3O7−x (YBCO) films on top. A great increase in the superconducting properties has been observed at high temperatures and magnetic fields parallel to the YBa2Cu3O7−x c-axis. The vortex pinning properties and the defects induced in the YBa2Cu3O7−x matrix have been investigated. We show that extended defects along the c-axis, induced in the YBCO matrix by the interfacial nanostructures, lay at the origin of the improved performances.