Microstructure study of amorphous vanadium oxide thin films using raman spectroscopy

Microstructural changes of amorphous V2O5 films with lithium intercalation are studied using Raman-scattering measurements. The Raman spectra of as-deposited films show two broad peaks around at 520 and 650 cm−1, due to the stretching modes of the V3–O and V2–O bonds, respectively, and a relatively sharp peak at 1027 cm−1 due to the V5+=O stretching mode of terminal oxygen atoms. In addition, there is a peak at 932 cm−1 that we attribute to the V4+=O bonds. Comparison of the Raman spectra of V2O5 films with different oxygen deficiencies confirms this assignment. This Raman peak due to the stretching mode of the V4+=O bonds develops and shifts toward lower frequencies with increasing lithium concentration. Comparison to results from gasochromic hydrogen insertion indicates that the 932 cm−1 Raman peak is not a result of vibrations which involve Li or H atoms. We propose that the V4+=O bonds are created by two different mechanisms: a direct conversion from V5+=O bonds and the breaking of the single oxygen bonds involving V4+ ions.