Electron-beam-induced phase transition in the transmission electron microscope: the case of VO2(B)

Abstract

VO₂(B) nanobelts were grown by a vapor transport and condensation method in a furnace and identified by standard electron microscopy methods. A phase transition process from VO₂(B) to VO₂(M1) was made possible under electron beam irradiation. To identify the phase transition, the variations of the phase and diffraction pattern were recorded for the VO₂ nanobelts. A method to monitor the temperature of the samples in the transmission electron microscope under a certain electron beam convergence was proposed. A mesa made of the VO₂ phase change material can be employed to monitor the elevated temperature in the area where the electron beam is converged.