Basso, M;
Colusso, E;
Carraro, C;
Kalha, C;
Riaz, AA;
Bombardelli, G;
Napolitani, E;
... Martucci, A; + view all
(2023)
Rapid laser-induced low temperature crystallization of thermochromic VO2 sol-gel thin films.
Applied Surface Science
, 631
, Article 157507. 10.1016/j.apsusc.2023.157507.
Preview |
Text
Regoutz_1-s2.0-S0169433223011856-main.pdf Download (6MB) | Preview |
Abstract
The thermochromic properties of vanadium dioxide (VO2) offer great advantages for energy-saving smart windows, memory devices, and transistors. However, the crystallization of solution-based thin films at temperatures lower than 400°C remains a challenge. Photonic annealing has recently been exploited to crystallize metal oxides, with minimal thermal damage to the substrate and reduced manufacturing time. Here, VO2 thin films, obtained via a green sol–gel process, were crystallized by pulsed excimer laser annealing. The influence of increasing laser fluence and pulse number on the film properties was systematically studied through optical, structural, morphological, and chemical characterizations. From temperature profile simulations, the temperature rise was confirmed to be confined within the film during the laser pulses, with negligible substrate heating. Threshold laser parameters to induce VO2 crystallization without surface melting were found. With respect to furnace annealing, both the crystallization temperature and the annealing time were substantially reduced, with VO2 crystallization being achieved within only 60 s of laser exposure. The laser processing was performed at room temperature in air, without the need of a controlled atmosphere. The thermochromic properties of the lasered thin films were comparable with the reference furnace-treated samples.
| Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Title: | Rapid laser-induced low temperature crystallization of thermochromic VO2 sol-gel thin films |
| Open access status: | An open access version is available from UCL Discovery |
| DOI: | 10.1016/j.apsusc.2023.157507 |
| Publisher version: | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apsusc.2023.157507 |
| Language: | English |
| Additional information: | © 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). |
| Keywords: | Vanadium oxide, Sol gel, Laser, Thermochromic, Smart windows, Photonic curing |
| UCL classification: | UCL UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS > Faculty of Maths and Physical Sciences UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS > Faculty of Maths and Physical Sciences > Dept of Chemistry |
| URI: | https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10183236 |
Archive Staff Only
 |
View Item |
