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Updated: Jan 26, 2026
11:10
Atomic Layer Deposition of Vanadium Dioxide and a Temperature-dependent Optical Model
Published on: May 23, 2018
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Vanadium(V) oxide clusters synthesized by sublimation from bulk under fully inert conditions
Maximilian Lasserus1, Martin Schnedlitz1, Roman Messner1
1Institute of Experimental Physics , Graz University of Technology , Petersgasse 16 , A-8010 Graz , Austria . Email: andreas.w.hauser@gmail.com ; Email: wolfgang.ernst@tugraz.at ; ; Tel: +43 316 873 8157 ; Tel: +43 316 873 8140.
Chemical Science
|April 19, 2019
Summary
Neutral vanadium oxide nanoparticles synthesized using superfluid helium droplets retain their bulk structure. This novel method avoids fragmentation, enabling controlled synthesis of metal and metal-oxide nanolayers.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Nanotechnology
- Physical Chemistry
Background:
- Traditional synthesis of oxide nanoparticles (e.g., vanadium oxide) often involves solution or laser ablation.
- These methods can lead to undesirable structural changes, including chemical reactions and fragmentation.
- Preserving the precise stoichiometry and structure of nanoparticles is crucial for their applications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a novel synthesis method for neutral vanadium oxide nanoparticles.
- To investigate the structural integrity and stoichiometry of nanoparticles produced using superfluid helium droplets.
- To explore the potential for on-the-fly synthesis of layered metal and metal-oxide nanostructures.
Main Methods:
- Synthesis of neutral vanadium oxide nanoparticles via sublimation from bulk material.
- Pickup of nanoparticles by superfluid helium droplets.
- Mass spectrometry for structural and stoichiometric analysis.
- Electronic structure theory for theoretical investigation.
Main Results:
- Superfluid helium droplet encapsulation preserved the bulk stoichiometric ratio of vanadium to oxygen.
- Vanadium centers exhibited a tendency towards tetrahedral coordination in the finite nanoparticle geometry.
- A clear preference for (V2O5)n oligomers with even 'n' was observed, unlike fragmentation in direct ionization methods.
- This indicates a unique stabilization mechanism within the helium nanodroplets.
Conclusions:
- Superfluid helium droplet synthesis offers a gentle and effective route for producing intact oxide nanoparticles.
- The method preserves stoichiometry and reveals specific structural preferences in finite geometries.
- This technique opens new avenues for the controlled, on-the-fly fabrication of complex nanolayered materials.
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