Interplay between Ferroelastic and Metal-Insulator Phase Transitions in Strained Quasi-2D VO[subscript 2] Nanoplatelets
- Asylum
Formation of ferroelastic twin domains in vanadium dioxide (VO{sub 2}) nanosystems can strongly affect local strain distributions, and hence couple to the strain-controlled metal-insulator transition. Here we report polarized-light optical and scanning microwave microscopy studies of interrelated ferroelastic and metal-insulator transitions in single-crystalline VO{sub 2} quasi-two-dimensional (quasi-2D) nanoplatelets (NPls). In contrast to quasi-1D single-crystalline nanobeams, the 2D geometric frustration results in emergence of several possible families of ferroelastic domains in NPls, thus allowing systematic studies of strain-controlled transitions in the presence of geometrical frustration. We demonstrate the possibility of controlling the ferroelastic domain population by the strength of the NPl-substrate interaction, mechanical stress, and by the NPl lateral size. Ferroelastic domain species and domain walls are identified based on standard group-theoretical considerations. Using variable temperature microscopy, we imaged the development of domains of metallic and semiconducting phases during the metal-insulator phase transition and nontrivial strain-driven reentrant domain formation. A long-range reconstruction of ferroelastic structures accommodating metal-insulator domain formation has been observed. These studies illustrate that a complete picture of the phase transitions in single-crystalline and disordered VO{sub 2} structures can be drawn only if both ferroelastic and metal-insulator strain effects are taken into consideration and understood.
- Research Organization:
- Argonne National Lab. (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States). Advanced Photon Source (APS)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- OSTI ID:
- 1002391
- Journal Information:
- Nano Lett., Vol. 10, Issue (6) ; 06, 2010
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- ENGLISH
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Interplay between Ferroelastic and Metal-Insulator Phase Transitions in Strained Quasi-Two-Dimensional VO2 Nanoplatelets
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