Structural, Optical and Electrochromic Properties of Sol–Gel V

Vanadium pentoxide thin films are prepared by the sol–gel route by dissolving V2O5 powder (99.5% purity) in H2O2 solution. The solution is spin-coated on glass substrates for optical (UV–VIS–NIR) and XRD analysis, and on ITOcoated glass substrates for electrochromic measurements. The samples are then annealed at 150°C for 1 hour. The resulting films have a yellow-orange color, typical of polycrystalline V2O5. XRD measurements have shown that after annealing in air at 400°C the structure of the films has a c-axis preferred orientation, the (0 0 1)-type planes lying parallel to the substrate. SEM analysis revealed a smooth surface. The films’ optical and physical constants (n, α, Eg, the thickness d and the mean thickness inhomogeneity s) are calculated using a simple and accurate method based on the transmission spectrum alone. The films’ electrochromism is studied using cyclic voltammetry (CV) and chronoamperometry in propylene carbonate solution containing 1 mol/l LiCIO4. The films show reversible multichromism (yellow–green–blue) upon Li+ ion insertion/extraction. The absorbance of films colored at three different potentials is measured in the UV–VIS–PIR wavelength range, and this study shows that the changes in the optical absorption are consistent with the film color changes. Finally, the optical and electrochromic properties of the films prepared by this method are compared with those of our sputtered films already studied and with other works

Effects of lithium insertion into vanadium pentoxide thin films. Continuum radiation study

Optical emission of Lix(x=0.2,0.7,1.2)V2O5 has been studied during 5 keV Kr+ ions bombardment. Continuous luminescence was observed in a broad wavelength range between 280 and 340 nm. Generally, the emission intensity was influenced by the quantities of lithium giving rise to transient effects as well as an increase in the line intensity. The experimental results suggest that the continuum emission depends on the nature of surface interaction between lithium and vanadium pentoxide and is very probably related to its electronic structure

Structural, Optical and Electrochromic Properties of Nanocrystalline TiO

Nanocrystalline TiO2 thin filmswere prepared by spin coating on covered glass substrates with an indium tin oxide (ITO) layer. The structural, electrochromic and optical properties of the films were investigated. The films are crystallized predominantly in the anatase phase with lattice parameters a = b = 0.378 nm and c = 0.958 nm . The crystallite size was found to be of the order of 14 nm. The films showed reversible coloration/bleaching cycles as demonstrated by cyclic voltametry and current–time transients. The transmission of the blue colored films decreased and their absorption edge was less sharp and shifted to higher wavelengths as a result of the intercalation of Li+ ions

On the validity of the electron transfer model in photon emission from ion bombarded vanadium surfaces

The spectral structure of the radiation (250–500 nm) emitted during sputtering of clean and oxygen-covered polycrystalline vanadium and V2O5 by 5 keV Kr+ ions is presented. The optical spectra obtained by bombarding the vanadium target consist of series of sharp lines, which are attributed to neutral and ionic excited V. The same lines are observed in the spectra of V2O5 and vanadium when oxygen is present. The absolute intensities of VI and VII lines are measured under similar conditions for all spectra. The difference in photon yield from the clean and oxide vanadium targets is discussed in terms of the electron-transfer processes between the excited sputtered and electronic levels of the two types of surfaces. We have examined the existing models of ionisation, excitation, neutralisation and de-excitation of atomic particles in the vicinity of solid surfaces. Continuum radiation was also observed and interpreted as a result of the emission of excited molecules of the metal-oxide