  Superconducting MgB2 thin films were prepared on 50-micrometer-thick,
flexible polyamide Kapton-E foils by vacuum co-deposition of Mg and B
precursors with nominal thickness of about 100 nm and a special ex-situ rapid
annealing process in an Ar or vacuum atmosphere. In the optimal annealing
process, the Mg-B films were heated to approximately 600 C, but at the same
time, the backside of the structures was attached to a water-cooled radiator to
avoid overheating of the plastic substrate. The resulting MgB2 films were
amorphous with the onset of the superconducting transition at T_(c,on) about 33
K and the transition width of approximately 3 K. The critical current density
was > 7x10^5 A/cm^2 at 4.2 K, and its temperature dependence indicated a
granular film composition with a network of intergranular weak links. The films
could be deposited on large-area foils (up to 400 cm^2) and, after processing,
cut into any shapes (e.g., stripes) with scissors or bent multiple times,
without any observed degradation of their superconducting properties.
