X-ray induced photoconductivity in Vanadium Dioxide samples

Vanadium Dioxide (VO2) goes through a first-order phase transition at approximately 340K, exhibiting both an insulator to metal transition (IMT) and a structural phase transition (SPT), with a monoclinic (M1) insulating phase at low temperatures and a rutile (R) metallic phase at high temperatures. We show an anomalous behavior of x-ray induced persistent photoconductivity (PPC) well below the temperature induced phase transition in VO2 devices. We present conductivity and X-ray Diffraction (XRD) measurements, revealing a large enhancement of conductivity due to photo-induced carriers. Moreover, with the addition of nominal electric fields, we are able to fully transition into the rutile metallic phase at room temperature. This effect is completely reversible, allowing the monoclinic insulating phase to be recovered via annealing.