Method of producing biaxially textured buffer layers and related articles, devices and systems

A power grid, comprising:

• a power generation station comprising a power generator;
• a transmission substation comprising a plurality of power transformers for receiving power from the power generation station and stepping-up voltage for transmission;
• a plurality of power transmission cables for transmitting power from the transmission substation;
• a power substation for receiving power from the power transmission cables, said power substation comprising a plurality of power transformers for stepping-down voltage for distribution;
• and
• a plurality of power distribution cables for distributing power to end users, wherein at least one of the power distribution cables, power transmission cables, transformers of the power substation, transformers of the transmission substation, and the power generator comprises a plurality of superconductive tapes, each superconductive tape comprising a substrate, a first buffer film disposed on said substrate, said first buffer film having uniaxial crystal texture characterized by (i) texture in a first crystallographic direction that extends out-of-plane of the first buffer film with no significant texture in a second direction that extends in-plane of the first buffer film, or (ii) texture in a first crystallographic direction that extends in-plane of the first buffer film with no significant texture in a second direction that extends out-of-plane of the first buffer film, a second buffer film disposed on said first buffer film, said second buffer film having a biaxial crystal texture, and a superconductor layer disposed on said second buffer film.

An electronically active article, comprising:

• a substrate;
• a first buffer film disposed on said substrate, said first buffer film having uniaxial crystal texture characterized by (i) texture in a first crystallographic direction that extends out-of-plane of the first buffer film with no significant texture in a second direction that extends in-plane of the first buffer film, or (ii) texture in a first crystallographic direction that extends in-plane of the first buffer film with no significant texture in a second direction that extends out-of-plane of the first buffer film;
• a second buffer film disposed on said first buffer film, said second buffer film having a biaxial crystal texture;
• and
• an electronically active layer disposed on said second buffer film.

A method of producing a biaxially textured article, comprising the steps of:

• providing a substrate;
• forming a first buffer film on said substrate, said first buffer film having uniaxial crystal texture characterized by (i) texture in a first crystallographic direction that extends out-of-plane of the first buffer film with no significant texture in a second direction that extends in-plane of the first buffer film, or (ii) texture in a first crystallographic direction that extends in-plane of the first buffer film with no significant texture in a second direction that extends out-of-plane of the first buffer film;
• and
• depositing a second buffer film with ion assist on said first buffer film, said second buffer film having a biaxial texture.