A theoretical model was suggested that describes the effects of misfit stresses on defect structures, phase content and critical transition temperature Tc in high-Tc superconducting films. The focus was placed on the exemplary case of YBaCuO films deposited onto LaSrAlO4 substrates. It was theoretically revealed here that misfit stresses were capable of inducing phase transformations controlled by the generation of misfit dislocations in growing cuprate films. These transformations, in the framework of the suggested model, account for experimental data on the influence of the film thickness on phase content and critical temperature Tc of superconducting cuprate films, reported in the literature. The potential role of stress-assisted phase transformations in suppression of critical current density across grain boundaries in high-Tc superconductors was briefly considered.

Misfit Dislocations and Phase Transformations in High-Tc Superconducting Films. M.Y.Gutkin, I.A.Ovidko: Journal of Physics - Condensed Matter, 2002, 14[47], 12551-62