Abstract
The configuration and evolution of coexisting mesoscopic domains with contrasting material properties are critical in creating novel functionality through emergent physical properties. However, current approaches that map the domain structure involve either spatially resolved but protracted scanning probe experiments without real time information on the domain evolution, or time resolved spectroscopic experiments lacking domain-scale spatial resolution. We demonstrate an elegant experimental technique that bridges these local and global methods, giving access to mesoscale information on domain formation and evolution at time scales orders of magnitude faster than current spatially resolved approaches. Our straightforward analysis of laser speckle patterns across the first order phase transition of VO 2 can be generalized to other systems with large scale phase separation and has potential as a powerful method with both spatial and temporal resolution to study phase separation in complex materials.
Original language | English |
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Article number | 6259 |
Journal | Scientific Reports |
Volume | 4 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Sep 2 2014 |
Funding
Research supported by the US Department of Energy (DOE), Basic Energy Sciences (BES), Materials Sciences and Engineering Division, (PCS, TZW) and Chemical Sciences, Geosciences, and Biosciences Division (RWS). Ellipsometry measurements (JMM, BSL) were conducted at the Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences, which is sponsored at Oak Ridge National Laboratory by the Scientific User Facilities Division, Office of BES, US DOE. Partial support was also given by LDRD Program at ORNL (KS). Partial support was also given by, U.S. Department of Energy, BES-DMS funded by the Department of Energy’s Office of Basic Energy Science, under grant DE FG03 87ER-45332 (IKS). Partial support also given by Israel Science Foundation grant No. 727/11 (AS).
Funders | Funder number |
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Basic Energy Science | DE FG03 87ER-45332 |
US Department of Energy | |
U.S. Department of Energy | |
Basic Energy Sciences | |
Raymond Williams Society | |
Division of Materials Sciences and Engineering | |
Chemical Sciences, Geosciences, and Biosciences Division | |
Israel Science Foundation | 727/11 |