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Updated: Dec 14, 2025
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Atomic Layer Deposition of Vanadium Dioxide and a Temperature-dependent Optical Model
Published on: May 23, 2018
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Adaptive tuning of infrared emission using VO2 thin films
M C Larciprete1, M Centini1, S Paoloni2
1Dipartimento di Scienze di Base ed Applicate per l'Ingegneria, Sapienza Università di Roma, Via Antonio Scarpa 16, 00161, Rome, Italy.
Scientific Reports
|July 16, 2020
Summary
Vanadium dioxide (VO2) thin films dynamically control infrared emission. This phase-transition material can suppress black-body radiation and boost mirror emissivity in a single layer device.
Area of Science:
- Photonics
- Materials Science
- Optical Engineering
Background:
- Phase-transition materials offer dynamic control over optical properties in photonic devices.
- Vanadium dioxide (VO2) exhibits a phase transition near room temperature, making it suitable for tunable optical applications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically investigate the infrared emission characteristics of vanadium dioxide (VO2) thin films.
- To demonstrate the potential of VO2 thin films for dynamically tuning thermal radiation from different heat sources.
Main Methods:
- Experimental investigation of infrared emission from an 80 nm VO2 thin film in the 3.5-5.1 μm spectral range.
- Utilized infrared thermography, including heating and cooling cycles, to study thermal radiation.
- Theoretical analysis by modeling the VO2 film as a metamaterial near its critical temperature.
Main Results:
- VO2 thin films demonstrated dynamic control over infrared emission.
- Successfully tuned thermal radiation from both black-body-like and mirror-like heat sources.
- Achieved simultaneous suppression of black-body emission and enhancement of mirror emissivity using a single VO2 layer.
Conclusions:
- Single-layer VO2 thin films are promising for developing tunable infrared emitters and detectors.
- Understanding the thermal tuning dynamics of VO2 is crucial for advancing infrared technologies.
- Potential applications include active infrared filters, sensors, and thermal emitters.
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