Preparation and characterization of YBa2Cu3 O7-delta/polypyrrole bilayer structures

Electrochemical techniques help grow conductive polymer/high-Tc superconductor bilayers structures, blocking the surface degradation of the high-Tc compounds. Atomic force microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and electrochemical techniques help characterize the deposition of polypyrrole layers onto YBa2Cu3O(7-delta) films. Oxidation of the polymer to its conductive state suppresses the transition temperature (Tc) and critical current (Jc) of the superconductor variations in the transition temperatures. Jc and Tc return to values of the underivatized YBa2Cu3O(7-delta) film, when the conductive polymer layer is reduced to its nonconductive form.