Thermochromic VO2 on Zinnwaldite Mica by pulsed laser deposition

Abstract VO 2 thin films have been deposited by pulsed laser deposition on Zinnwaldite Mica substrates. The crystal structure, chemical composition, morphology were determined and the semiconductor/metal transition (SMT) properties of the deposited films were investigated. Without any post annealing, the films exhibit a textured nature with a VO 2 (0 1 1) preferred crystallographic orientation and an elevated thermal variation of the electric resistance ratio R S / R M through the SMT at T  ≈ 68 °C of the order of 10 4 and a narrow ∼7 °C hysteresis. In addition, the growth of the VO 2 crystallites seem to be governed likely by a Volmer-Weber or Stranski-Krastanov mechanisms and certainly not a Frank-van Der Merwe process.