Unfolding the effect of Rare Earth element on the nucleation dynamics and morphology of the first REBCO islands with In-situ Grazing-Incidence Small Angle X-Ray Scattering

In-situ Grazing Incidence Small Angle X-ray Scattering (GI-SAXS) experiments will be conducted to investigate the morphology and distribution of the initial nuclei during the formation of epitaxial REBCO (RE = Y, Gd, Er) films grown via the Transient Liquid Assisted Growth (TLAG) method. These studies will be performed on Strontium Titanate (STO) model substrates, where precursor films with varying concentrations of RE oxides will be deposited using a chemical solution deposition technique. The nucleation and growth process will be monitored in real time at the NCD-SWEET beamline using an Anton Paar hot stage integrated with a TLAG setup. By precisely controlling the oxygen partial pressure and growth temperature, we will track the formation of the first REBCO islands and their evolution into a continuous layer. GI-SAXS measurements, with acquisition times of up to 40 ms/frame, will provide detailed insights into the nanoscale structure and distribution of the nuclei, while complementary in-situ 2D X-ray diffraction (XRD) data will offer additional information on phase formation. This systematic study of the nucleation mechanisms of Yttrium, Gadolinium, and Erbium-based REBCO films will contribute to a deeper understanding of the TLAG growth process, facilitating improved control over the fabrication of high-quality superconducting thin films.