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Particulate layers of thermochromic (TC) VO2 were made by reactive DC magnetron sputtering of vanadium onto In2O3:Sn-coated glass. The deposits were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, and X-ray diffraction. Specular and diffuse optical transmittance and reflectance were recorded in the 300-2500-nm wavelength range and displayed pronounced TC effects. These properties could be reconciled with a semi-quantitative model based on Lorentz-Mie theory applied to the distribution of particle sizes and accounting for particle shapes by the Grenfell-Warren approach with equal-volume-to-area spheres. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thermochromic VO2 films were prepared by reactive DC magnetron sputtering onto heated sapphire substrates and were used to make 100-nm-thick samples that were 10 μm wide and 100 μm long. The resistance of these samples changed by a factor ∼2000 in the 50s<70 °C range of temperature Ts around the "critical" temperature Tc between a low-temperature semiconducting phase and a high-temperature metallic-like phase of VO2. Power density spectra S(f) were extracted for resistance noise around Tc and demonstrated unambiguous 1/f behavior. Data on S(10 Hz)/Rs2 scaled as Rsx, where Rs is sample resistance; the noise exponent x was -2.6 for Tsc and +2.6 for Ts>Tc. These exponents can be reconciled with the Pennetta-Trefán-Reggiani theory [Pennetta et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 85, 5238 (2000)] for lattice percolation with switching disorder ensuing from random defect generation and healing in steady state. Our work hence highlights the dynamic features of the percolating semiconducting and metallic-like regions around Tc in thermochromic VO2 films. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thin films of V2O5 were prepared by sputter deposition onto transparent and electrically conducting substrates and were found to be X-ray amorphous. Their electrochemical density of states was determined by chronopotentiometry and displayed a pronounced low-energy peak followed by an almost featureless contribution at higher energies. These results were compared with density functional theory calculations for amorphous V2O5. Significant similarities were found between measured data and computations; specifically, the experimental low-energy peak corresponds to a split-off part of the conduction band apparent in the computations. Furthermore, the calculations approximately reproduce the experimental band gap observed in optical measurements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Undoped and Mg-doped thermochromic VO2 films with atom ratios z ≡ Mg/(Mg + V) of 0 ≤ z < 0.21 were deposited by reactive DC magnetron sputtering onto heated glass and carbon substrates. Elemental compositions were found by Rutherford backscattering spectrometry. Optical constants were determined from transmittance and reflectance measurements and were used for modeling the optical properties of thin films and dilute nanoparticle composite layers below and above the critical temperature for thermochromic switching between a low-temperature infrared transparent state and a high-temperature infrared reflecting or absorbing state. Mg-doped films showed superior luminous transmittance T1um and solar transmittance modulation ΔTsol compared to undoped VO2 films, and both of these parameters could be further enhanced by anti-reflection. VO2-containing nanocomposites had much larger values of T1um and ΔTsol than VO2-based films. Mg-doping was found to erode the properties of the nanocomposites. Approximate performance limits are given on T1um and ΔTsol for thermochromic VO2 films, with and without Mg doping and antireflection coating, and also for VO2-containing dilute nanocomposites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polymer electrolytes containing polyethyleneimine and different concentrations of lithium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl) imide were investigated by impedance spectroscopy at different temperatures. Two equivalent circuit models were compared for the bulk impedance response. The first one includes a conductive Havriliak-Negami (HN) element which represents ionic conductivity and ion pair relaxation in a single process, and the second model includes a dielectric HN element, which represents ion pair relaxation, in parallel with ion conductivity. Comparison of the two circuit models showed that the quality of the fit was similar and in some cases better for the conductive model. The experimental data follow the Barton-Nakajima-Namikawa relation, which relates the ion conductivity and the parameters of the relaxation. This indicates that ion conductivity and ion pair relaxation are two parts of the same process and should be described by the conductive model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies that characterization of rf-sputtered SnO[subx] thin films through electron microscopy, Hall-effect measurements and Mö ssbauer spectrometry. Polycrystalline appearance of the thin films; Sharp resistivity minimum.

Reports on the preparation and optical properties of electrochromic nickel-oxide-based coatings made by reactive direct current magnetron sputtering. Characterization of electrochromic materials; Sputter deposition of nickel oxide films; Electron microscopic studies of the nickel oxide films.