Tunable Metal-Insulator Phase Transition in $VO_2$ Nanowires

Understanding the thermodynamics and structural transformation during the Metal-Insulator Transition (MIT) is critical to better understand the underlying physical origin of phase transition in the vanadiumdioxide ($VO_2$). Here, through the temperature-dependent in-situ high resolutiontransmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM), and systematic electrical transport study, we have shown that the tunable MIT transition of $VO_2$ nanowires is strongly affected by interplay between strain and domain nucleation by ion beam irradiation. Surprsingly, we have also observed that the $VO_2$ rutile (R) metallic phase could form directly in a strain-induced metastable monoclinic (M2) phase. These insights open the door toward more systematic approaches to synthesis for $VO_2$ nanostructures in desired phase and to use for applications including ultrafast optical switching, smart window, metamaterial, resistance RAM and synapse devices.