Solution-based fabrication of VO2 (M) nanoparticles via lyophilisation

Thermochromic vanadium dioxide (VO2) is the most extensively researched smart material owing to its near room-temperature phase transition at around 68 degrees C. Freeze drying has been employed in the solution-based fabrication of highly pure and crystalline VO2 nanoparticles and it was found that freeze drying can largely eliminate the agglomeration issue which is common in nanoparticle fabrication. The particle size, phase transition temperature (tau(c)), crystallinity and latent heat (L-H) have been systematically studied by changing the precursor concentration and annealing temperature. The freeze-dried sample (with 7.5 mL H2O2 in precursor) annealed at 650 degrees C has a particle size of similar to 53 nm and tau(c) of 64.5 degrees C, as well as high crystallinity with L-C of 36.76 J g(-1).