Voltage-controlled switching and thermal effects in VO2 nano-gap junctions

Abstract

Voltage-controlled switching in lateral VO2 nano-gap junctions with different gap lengths and thermal properties was investigated. The effect of Joule heating on the phase transition was found to be strongly influenced by the device geometry, the contact material, and the current. Our results indicate that the VO2 phase transition was likely initiated electronically, which was sometimes followed by a secondary thermally induced transition.