ST11218 Vanadium (V) Rotary Sputtering Target

Complete Technical Specifications & Capabilities

Detailed specifications for depositing functional vanadium films in research and industrial coating systems.

Technical & Application Deep Dive

1. Functional Thin Films: Harnessing Vanadium’s Unique Properties

Vanadium films deposited from these targets enable several advanced technologies:

• Smart Window Coatings: Vanadium oxide (VO₂, V₂O₅) films, produced by reactive sputtering from V targets, exhibit a reversible metal-insulator transition near room temperature. This changes their optical properties (e.g., infrared transmittance), enabling thermochromic “smart” windows that dynamically regulate heat gain.
• Hydrogen Technology: Vanadium is highly permeable to hydrogen and forms hydrides. Thin V films and V-based alloy membranes are researched for hydrogen purification, sensing, and storage applications.
• Superconducting Devices: Vanadium is a Type-II superconductor. It is used in thin-film form in fundamental superconductivity research and as a component in multilayer structures for superconducting electronics (e.g., as a barrier in Josephson junctions).

2. The Alloying Element: Enhancing Coating Performance

As a sputtering source, vanadium is frequently used as an alloying component:

• Wear-Resistant Alloys: Added to tool coatings (like TiAlN) to form VAlN or other complex nitrides, which can reduce friction and improve high-temperature performance through the formation of lubricious V₂O₅ at the surface.
• Corrosion-Resistant Alloys: Vanadium improves the corrosion resistance of stainless steels and other alloys; thin film versions can be deposited for surface modification.
• High-Entropy Alloys (HEAs): Used in co-sputtering systems as one of the principal elements for synthesizing novel, multi-component alloy films with tailored properties.

3. Advantages of the Rotary Target Design

The rotary configuration is particularly beneficial for vanadium deposition:

• Uniformity for Functional Films: Consistent film thickness and composition are critical for the performance of optical, hydrogen, and superconducting devices. The rotary design provides superior uniformity over large substrate areas.
• High-Rate, High-Volume Deposition: Ideal for coating large glass panels for smart windows or producing long lengths of hydrogen separation membrane tubing.
• Efficient Use of Material: The rotating tube erodes evenly around its circumference, maximizing material utilization and reducing cost per coated substrate—important for cost-sensitive applications like architectural glass.

Quality Assurance & Manufacturing

Stanford Advanced Materials implements strict controls for vanadium target production:

• Purity Analysis: Trace metallic impurities are quantified using Glow Discharge Mass Spectrometry (GDMS) or Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP-OES), with particular attention to interstitial elements (O, N, C, H) that can affect film properties.
• Microstructural Examination: Optical Microscopy and SEM are used to assess grain structure and ensure freedom from cracks, porosity, or inclusions that could cause arcing.
• Dimensional Precision: Critical tubular dimensions (OD, ID, concentricity) are verified with precision gauges to ensure proper fit in rotary cathodes.

Why Choose SAM for Your Vanadium Targets?

• Specialist in Functional Materials: We understand the specific property requirements for vanadium in optical, energy, and superconducting applications.
• Flexible Purity Grades: We supply targets from industrial grade (99%) to high-purity R&D grade (99.99%), catering to both cost-sensitive production and cutting-edge research.
• Expertise in Rotary Target Fabrication: Precision machining and quality control ensure our tubular targets provide reliable, stable performance in high-throughput systems.
• Collaborative Development: We work with customers developing new applications, offering technical support on target specifications for optimal film performance.

Next Steps: Get a Custom Quote

To receive a formal quotation or technical consultation, please provide:

1. Desired purity grade (e.g., 99%, 99.9%).
2. Rotary target dimensions (OD, ID, Length) or your coating system model.
3. Primary application (e.g., VO_x for smart windows, hydrogen membranes, superconducting layers, alloy coatings).
4. Estimated annual usage or project scale.