Abstract
The formation and optical response of VO x nanoparticles embedded in amorphous aluminium oxide (Al 2 O 3 ) thin films by pulsed laser deposition is studied. The thin films have been grown by alternate laser ablation of V and Al 2 O 3 targets, which has resulted in a multilayer structure with embedded nanoparticles. The V content has been varied by changing the number of pulses on the V target. It is found that VO x nanoparticles with dimensions around 5 nm have been formed. The structural analysis shows that the vanadium nanoparticles are oxidized, although probably there is not a unique oxide phase for each sample. The films show a different optical response depending on their vanadium content. Optical switching as a function of temperature has been observed for the two films with the highest vanadium content, at transition temperatures of about -20 °C and 315 °C thus suggesting the presence of nanoparticles with compositions V 4 O 7 and V 2 O 5 , respectively.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 8136-8140 |
Number of pages | 5 |
Journal | Applied Surface Science |
Volume | 253 |
Issue number | 19 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Jul 31 2007 |
Keywords
- Nanoparticles
- Optical switching
- Pulsed laser deposition
- Vanadium
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Chemistry(all)
- Condensed Matter Physics
- Physics and Astronomy(all)
- Surfaces and Interfaces
- Surfaces, Coatings and Films