title: V6O13 films by control of the oxidation state from aqueous precursor to crystalline phase.
abstract: An aqueous deposition process for V(6)O(13) films is developed whereby the vanadium oxidation state is continuously controlled throughout the entire process. In the precursor stage, a controlled wet chemical reduction of the vanadium(V) source with oxalic acid is achieved and monitored by (51)Vanadium Nuclear Magnetic Resonance ((51)V-NMR) and Ultraviolet-Visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy. The resulting vanadium(IV) species in the aqueous solution are identified as mononuclear citrato-oxovanadate(IV) complexes by Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR) and Fourier Transform Infra-Red (FTIR) spectroscopy. This precursor is successfully employed for the deposition of uniform, thin films. The optimal deposition and annealing conditions for the formation of crystalline V(6)O(13), including the control of the vanadium oxidation state, are determined through an elaborate study of processing temperature and O(2) partial pressure. To ensure a sub 100 nm adjustable film thickness, a non-oxidative intermediate thermal treatment is carried out at the end of each deposition cycle, allowing maximal precursor decomposition while still avoiding V(IV) oxidation. The resulting surface hydrophilicity, indispensable for the homogeneous deposition of the next layer, is explained by an increased surface roughness and the increased availability of surface vanadyl groups. Crystalline V(6)O(13) with a preferential (002) orientation is obtained after a post deposition annealing in a 0.1% O(2) ambient for thin films with a thickness of 20 nm.
authors.affiliation: Hasselt University, Institute for Materials Research, Inorganic and Physical Chemistry, Diepenbeek, Belgium. nick.peys@uhasselt.be
authors.forename: Nick
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Peys
authors.forename: Yun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ling
authors.forename: Daan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dewulf
authors.forename: Sven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gielis
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: De Dobbelaere
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cuypers
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Adriaensens
authors.forename: Sabine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Van Doorslaer
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: De Gendt
authors.forename: An
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hardy
authors.forename: Marlies K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Van Bael