Vanadium Oxides
Vanadium is a 3d transition metal with the electron configuration [Ar] 3d3 4s2. This configuration lends itself to a range of four accessible oxidation states from V(II) up to V(V), leading to the four main oxide phases: VO, V2O3, VO2 and V2O5. However, mixed valence phases are easily formed leading to a menagerie of closely related crystal phases (eg. Magneli phases: VnO(2n-1) 3 n 9). The majority of vanadium oxide phases also exhibit a metal-insulator transition, whereby the resistivity of a material decreases several orders of magnitude upon thermal, optical or electric field excitation.
In our work we examine:
- The application of vanadium oxides in electronics, with specific emphasis on the metal-insulator transition and its characteristics
- The physical mechanism of the metal-insulator transition
- The composition, structure and evolution of vanadium oxide crystals under annealing and processing conditions
- The application of vanadium oxides in regards to water splitting
As a result, we specialise in the fabrication and characterization of vanadium oxide thin films and devices; and the study of vanadium oxide single crystals.
Select Publications:
Murtagh, O., B. Walls, and I. V. Shvets. "Controlling the resistive switching hysteresis in VO2 thin films via application of pulsed voltage." Applied Physics Letters 117.6 (2020): 063501