Photoinduced phase transition in VO2 nanocrystals: ultrafast control of surface-plasmon resonance.
We study the ultrafast insulator-to-metal transition in nanoparticles of VO2, obtained by ion implantation and self-assembly in silica. The nonmagnetic, strongly correlated compound VO2 undergoes a reversible phase transition, which can be photoinduced on an ultrafast time scale. In the nanoparticles, prompt formation of the metallic state results in the appearance of surface-plasmon resonance. We achieve large, ultrafast enhancement of optical absorption in the near-infrared spectral region that encompasses the wavelength range for optical-fiber communications. One can further tailor the response of the nanoparticles by controlling their shape.
Rini
Matteo
M
Materials Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, 1 Cyclotron Road, Berkeley, California 94720, USA. mrini@lbl.gov
Cavalleri
Andrea
A
Schoenlein
Robert W
RW
López
René
R
Feldman
Leonard C
LC
Haglund
Richard F
RF
Boatner
Lynn A
LA
Haynes
Tony E
TE