Open AccessInfluence of Cation (RE = Sc, Y, Gd) and O/H Anion Ratio on the Photochromic Properties of REOxH3–2x Thin Films
Author(s) -
Giorgio Colombi,
Tom de Krom,
Diana Chaykina,
S. Cornelius,
S.W.H. Eijt,
B. Dam
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
acs photonics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.735
H-Index - 89
ISSN - 2330-4022
DOI - 10.1021/acsphotonics.0c01877
Subject(s) - photochromism , ionic radius , ion , thin film , materials science , ionic bonding , deposition (geology) , radius , analytical chemistry (journal) , photochemistry , chemistry , nanotechnology , organic chemistry , paleontology , computer security , sediment , computer science , biology
Rare-earth oxyhydride REO x H 3-2 x thin films prepared by air-oxidation of reactively sputtered REH 2 dihydrides show a color-neutral, reversible photochromic effect at ambient conditions. The present work shows that the O/H anion ratio, as well as the choice of the cation, allow to largely tune the extent of the optical change and its speed. The bleaching time, in particular, can be reduced by an order of magnitude by increasing the O/H ratio, indirectly defined by the deposition pressure of the parent REH 2 . The influence of the cation (RE = Sc, Y, Gd) under comparable deposition conditions is discussed. Our data suggest that REs of a larger ionic radius form oxyhydrides with a larger optical contrast and faster bleaching speed, hinting to a dependency of the photochromic mechanism on the anion site-hopping.