@article{Zhao2026, 
author = {Tao Zhao and Hongyi Ouyang and Jinxin Gu and Yanyu Chen and Xingquan Guo and Qianqian Zhao and Jiarui Lu and Chao Li and Yanfei Yang and Haobo Fan and Shuliang Dou and Jiupeng Zhao and Yao Li},
title = {Atomic-scale origins of ultraviolet-driven phase transition behavior in strongly correlated vanadium dioxide heterostructures},
year = {2026},
journal = {Nano Research},
keywords = {VO2 phase transition, strongly correlated oxide, defect migration, vacuum ultraviolet, heterostructure},
url = {https://www.sciopen.com/article/10.26599/NR.2026.94908919},
doi = {10.26599/NR.2026.94908919},
abstract = {Precise control over multiple functional phases in strongly correlated VO₂ and its heterostructures establishes a correlation between inclusions, defect dynamics and the stabilization of monoclinic versus tetragonal phases. However, a comprehensive atomic-level understanding of these processes remains insufficient to elucidate the underlying multiple defect-phase relationship mechanisms. Herein, we uncover the atomic-scale inter-layer defect transfer mechanism in VO2-based Fabry-Pérot resonant cavity heterostructures under vacuum-ultraviolet (VUV) irradiation. The irradiation induces cleavage of In-O and Sn-O bonds within the indium-tin-oxide (ITO) layer, triggering the concerted diffusive migration of In, Sn, and oxygen vacancies with VO2. This migration elevates electron occupancy in the hybridized energy levels of the d//-bond orbital and In/Sn-d orbitals within V-V dimers. The enhanced d// electron density strengthens orbital overlap with π* antibonding orbitals, driving the VO2 phase transition from insulating monoclinic to metallic rutile. These results offer important theoretical and experimental insights into defect-mediated phase engineering in strongly correlated oxides and hold promise for advancing applications in quantum optoelectronic information and adaptive optics.}
}