Plasma assisted synthesis of vanadium pentoxide nanoplates

In this work, we report the growth of α-V₂O₅ (orthorhombic) nanoplates on glass substrate using plasma assisted sublimation process (PASP) and Nickel as catalyst. 100 nm thick film of Ni is deposited over glass substrate by thermal evaporation process. Vanadium oxide nanoplates have been deposited treating vanadium metal foil under high vacuum conditions with oxygen plasma. Vanadium foil is kept at fixed temperature growth of nanoplates of V₂O₅ to take place. Samples grown have been studied using XPS, XRD and HRTEM to confirm the growth of α-phase of V₂O₅, which revealed pure single crystal of α- V₂O₅ in orthorhombic crystallographic plane. Surface morphological studies using SEM and TEM show nanostructured thin film in form of plates. Uniform, vertically aligned randomly oriented nanoplates of V₂O₅ have been deposited