Photochromism in Isotopically Labeled Oxygen-Containing Yttrium-Hydride and Deuteride Thin-Film Systems

• Photochromic mono- and bilayered thin films of oxygen-containing isotope-labeled yttrium-hydride (i.e., protium and deuterium) are synthesized via reactive Ar sputtering. Selected samples are encapsulated with transparent diffusion barriers. Combining depth-resolved nondestructive ion beam-based techniques for composition and optical spectrophotometry, material mobility in the samples during illumination and over time is investigated. The results reveal that deuteride thin films exhibit a strong photochromic response equivalent to hydrogenated systems. No evidence of long-distance light-induced hydrogen mobility or thermal diffusion is found. The findings thus show that photochromism is not connected to long-distance material transport. The observations for encapsulated samples also exclude direct material exchange with the environment and any environmental influence on material mobility.

Ämnesord

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Fysik -- Den kondenserade materiens fysik (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Physical Sciences -- Condensed Matter Physics (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

deuterium

diffusion barriers

isotopic labeling

material migration

oxygen-containing yttrium hydride

photochromism

Publikations- och innehållstyp

ref (ämneskategori)

art (ämneskategori)