Method of forming patterned oxide superconducting films

A process of manufacturing a high T.sub.c electrically superconducting article of a specific pattern, which method comprises:

• (a) preparing a solution comprising an organic solvent and at least three carboxylic acid metal compounds selected from the following structures:
• ##STR7##
• R.sup.2 M.sup.2 R.sup.7 (II)
• R.sup.3 -M.sup.3 -R.sup.8 (III)
• R.sup.4 -M.sup.4 -R.sup.9 (IV)
• R.sup.5 -M.sup.5 -R.sup.10 (V)
• R.sup.19 -M.sup.6 (VI) ##STR8## wherein R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3, R.sup.4 and R.sup.5 are each independently selected from organic -C.tbd.C-.tbd.C- containing acids or from:
• ##STR9## wherein R.sup.11 and R.sup.12 in each of R.sup.1 to R.sup.5 is independently selected from hydrogen, alkyl, aryl, alkenyl or dialkenyl each group independently having from 1 to 10 carbon atoms, or substituted alkyl, aryl, alkenyl or dialkenyl each group independently having from 1 to 10 carbon atoms;
• R.sup.13 in each of R.sup.1 to R.sup.5 is independently selected from hydrogen or alkyl having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms;
• and
• R.sup.14 in each of R.sup.1 to R.sup.5 is independently selected from a direct bond (-), or -(CH.sub.2).sub.n - where n is an integer from 1 to 10;
• R.sup.6, R.sup.7, R.sup.8, R.sup.9 and R.sup.10 are each independently selected from R.sup.1 or -(C=O)R.sup.15 wherein R.sup.15 is alkyl having from 1 to 20 carbon atoms,
• R.sup.16, R.sup.17 and R.sup.18 are present and are selected from phenyl, tolyl or xylyl only when M.sup.1 as bismuth is present,
• R.sup.19 is independently selected from R.sup.1 to R.sup.5 or R.sup.6 to R.sup.10,
• R.sup.20, R<and R.sup.22 are each independently selected from R.sup.1 to R.sup.5 or R.sup.6 to R.sup.10,
• R.sup.23, R.sup.24, R.sup.25 and R.sup.26 are each independently selected from R.sup.1 to R.sup.5 or R.sup.6 to R.sup.10,
• M.sup.1 and M.sup.2 are each independently selected from bismuth, lead, samarium, europium, or mixtures thereof,
• M.sup.3 and M.sup.4 are each independently selected from barium, strontium, calcium or mixtures thereof,
• M.sup.5 is copper;
• M.sup.6 is copper;
• M.sup.7 is selected from thallium, yttrium, bismuth, aluminum, lanthanum, samarium, dysprosium or holmium, and
• M.sup.8 is selected from lead, tin or hafnium, with the proviso that compounds (I) to (VIII), are selected to comprise:
• (i) at least one unsaturated organic acid metal salt of Group IIA element,
• (ii) at least one unsaturated organic acid metal salt of Group IIIA, IIIB, IVA and VA element, and
• (iii) an unsaturated organic acid copper,
• wherein the ratio of metal atoms in Compounds I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII and VIII is selected to produce a high T.sub.c electrically superconducting article upon subsequent oxidation;
• (b) coating the surface of an article with the solution of step (a), optionally containing a crosslinking agent and initiator;
• (c) covering selected portions of the coated article with a mask pattern;
• (d) subjecting the coated surface to electromagnetic radiation effective to polymerize and crosslink the portion of the compounds I, II, III, IV, V, Vi, VII and VII exposed to the radiation;
• (e) removing the unpolymerized and uncrosslinked compounds I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII and VIII, to produce a solid residue on the coated surface,
• (f) calcining the solid residue of step (e) in sufficient oxygen or air at a temperature of between 700.degree. and 1000.degree. C. for a time effective to obtain a mixed metal oxide;
• and
• (g) slowly cooling the solid residue obtained at a temperature of between about 1000.degree. C. and 500.degree. C. at a rate of between about 1.degree. and 5.degree. C. per minute in excess air or oxygen concurrently slowly annealing the mixed metal oxide obtained in flowing oxygen or air by slowly cooling from about 500.degree. C. to 200.degree. C. at a rate of between about 1.degree. and 5.degree. C. per minute.