Electromechanical actuation and current-induced metastable states in suspended single-crystalline VO₂ nanoplatelets.

Tselev, Alexander; Budai, John D; Strelcov, Evgheni; Tischler, Jonathan Z; Kolmakov, Andrei; Kalinin, Sergei V · Nano Lett · 2011

basic_science · Level V

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Abstract

Current-induced electromechanical actuation enabled by the metal-insulator transition in VO(2) nanoplatelets is demonstrated. The Joule heating by a sufficient current flowing through suspended nanoplatelets results in formation of heterophase domain patterns and is accompanied by nanoplatelet deformation. The actuation action can be achieved in a wide temperature range below the bulk phase transition temperature (68 °C). The observed current-sustained heterophase domain structures should be interpreted as distinct metastable states in free-standing and end-clamped VO(2) samples. We analyze the main prerequisites for the realization of a current-controlled actuator based on the proposed concept.