October

Picture of the Month - October 2018

Here you see current insights into the research of the LaMa groups. A collection of the former pictures can be found in the Gallery.

Microstructuring of VO₂ for improved transmittance properties

Vanadiumdioxide (VO₂) is a material which changes its transmittance properties due to a temperature induced phase metal-insulator transition (MIT). The transmittance for infrared light in the monoclinic low temperature phase is much higher then in the tetragonal high temperature phase, thus VO₂ is predestined for use as a smart window coating for an improved climate control in buildings.
To gain a better optical impression and a higher transmittance in the visible range, one attempts to reduce the VO₂ covered area (AC) by microstructuring but on the other hand to maintain the switching effect.
Firstly, the VO₂ thin films were deposited by radio frequency sputtering (RF sputtering), then photolithography was carried out in the MiNaLab. As last step ion beam etching (IBE) was used for structuring the samples to obtain different patterns in the VO₂ thin film.
Producing different types of structures and using various etching parameters will be the next steps to gain the best relation between enhancing the transmittance in visible light and still a good switching efficiency for the MIT in the infrared range.

This picture was submitted by Hannes Giese, group of PD Dr. Angelika Polity.