In this study, V2O5/V/V2O5 sandwich-structured films were deposited on glass substrates by electron beam evaporation. The thickness of the first (bottom) V2O5 layer was 40 nm and the last (top) layer was 20 nm, while that of the sandwiched vanadium layer varied up to 12 nm for different samples. The effects of varying the thickness of the sandwiched vanadium layer on microstructural and thermochromic properties of the as-deposited and thermal annealed films were investigated. Ultrahigh-resolution scanning electron microscopy revealed the presence of nanostructures with various irregular shapes on the surfaces of all films. Also, the atomic force microscopy revealed an average roughness of ∼10–38 nm for increasing thickness of the sandwiched vanadium layer. X-ray powder diffraction measurements showed the presence of the monoclinic VO2 (M) crystal structure of the films with (011) preferred orientation at 27.94° for both 7 and 12 nm thicknesses of the sandwiched vanadium layers. The varying thickness of the sandwiched vanadium layers enhanced phase transition temperature values to ∼33.92 and ∼29.11 °C for both 7 and 12 nm thicknesses of the sandwiched layers, respectively. These enhanced transition temperature values, as a result of thickness variation of the sandwiched vanadium layers, pointed toward utilization of this method in the successful synthesis of VO2 films for thermochromic windows application and optoelectronics.
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September 2019
Research Article|
September 03 2019
Effect of varying the vanadium thickness layer of V2O5/V/V2O5 film on its microstructural and thermochromic properties Available to Purchase
Bhekumuzi Sfundo Khanyile;
Bhekumuzi Sfundo Khanyile
a)
1
UNESCO-UNISA Africa Chair in Nanosciences and Nanotechnology, College of Graduate Studies, University of South Africa (UNISA)
, Muckleneuk Ridge, P O Box 392, Pretoria 0003, South Africa
2
iThemba LABS—National Research Foundation
, P O Box 722, Somerset West 7129, South Africa
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Christopher Mtshali;
Christopher Mtshali
2
iThemba LABS—National Research Foundation
, P O Box 722, Somerset West 7129, South Africa
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Itani Given Madiba;
Itani Given Madiba
1
UNESCO-UNISA Africa Chair in Nanosciences and Nanotechnology, College of Graduate Studies, University of South Africa (UNISA)
, Muckleneuk Ridge, P O Box 392, Pretoria 0003, South Africa
2
iThemba LABS—National Research Foundation
, P O Box 722, Somerset West 7129, South Africa
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Aline Simo;
Aline Simo
2
iThemba LABS—National Research Foundation
, P O Box 722, Somerset West 7129, South Africa
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Nagla Numan;
Nagla Numan
2
iThemba LABS—National Research Foundation
, P O Box 722, Somerset West 7129, South Africa
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Kasinathan Kaviyarasu;
Kasinathan Kaviyarasu
2
iThemba LABS—National Research Foundation
, P O Box 722, Somerset West 7129, South Africa
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Nolubabalo Matinise;
Nolubabalo Matinise
2
iThemba LABS—National Research Foundation
, P O Box 722, Somerset West 7129, South Africa
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Mlungisi Nkosi;
Mlungisi Nkosi
2
iThemba LABS—National Research Foundation
, P O Box 722, Somerset West 7129, South Africa
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Sabata Jonas Moloi;
Sabata Jonas Moloi
1
UNESCO-UNISA Africa Chair in Nanosciences and Nanotechnology, College of Graduate Studies, University of South Africa (UNISA)
, Muckleneuk Ridge, P O Box 392, Pretoria 0003, South Africa
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Malik Maaza
Malik Maaza
1
UNESCO-UNISA Africa Chair in Nanosciences and Nanotechnology, College of Graduate Studies, University of South Africa (UNISA)
, Muckleneuk Ridge, P O Box 392, Pretoria 0003, South Africa
2
iThemba LABS—National Research Foundation
, P O Box 722, Somerset West 7129, South Africa
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Bhekumuzi Sfundo Khanyile
1,2,a)
Christopher Mtshali
2
Itani Given Madiba
1,2
Aline Simo
2
Nagla Numan
2
Kasinathan Kaviyarasu
2
Nolubabalo Matinise
2
Mlungisi Nkosi
2
Sabata Jonas Moloi
1
Malik Maaza
1,2
1
UNESCO-UNISA Africa Chair in Nanosciences and Nanotechnology, College of Graduate Studies, University of South Africa (UNISA)
, Muckleneuk Ridge, P O Box 392, Pretoria 0003, South Africa
2
iThemba LABS—National Research Foundation
, P O Box 722, Somerset West 7129, South Africa
a)
Electronic mail: [email protected]
J. Vac. Sci. Technol. A 37, 051511 (2019)
Article history
Received:
March 15 2019
Accepted:
August 05 2019
Citation
Bhekumuzi Sfundo Khanyile, Christopher Mtshali, Itani Given Madiba, Aline Simo, Nagla Numan, Kasinathan Kaviyarasu, Nolubabalo Matinise, Mlungisi Nkosi, Sabata Jonas Moloi, Malik Maaza; Effect of varying the vanadium thickness layer of V2O5/V/V2O5 film on its microstructural and thermochromic properties. J. Vac. Sci. Technol. A 1 September 2019; 37 (5): 051511. https://doi.org/10.1116/1.5096249
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