The control of magnetism near metal-to-insulator transitions of VO2 nano-belts

•Competitive synthesis of VO2 (M1 and B) phases that undergo MIT transition.•Temperature-controlled Raman spectroscopic VO2 (M1 and B) phases study.•Magnetic properties study of the thermochromic film across the MIT transition.

The magnetic properties of paramagnetic/weakly ferromagnetic films are strongly affected by the proximity to materials that undergo a metal to insulator phase transition. Here, we show that under the deposition conditions associated with structural changes near the metal-insulator phase transition of VO2 produces magnetoelastic anisotropy. We observe intrinsic paramagnetic centres (PM-C) both at the near film surface and bulk/deep PM-C that are affected by the metal-insulator phase transition in VO2. We study the evolution of vibrational modes of VO2 thin films in the vicinity of the phase transition by using temperature controlled-Raman microscopy.