Print Email Facebook Twitter Photochromic samarium oxyhydride thin films Title Photochromic samarium oxyhydride thin films Author Chaykina, D. (TU Delft ChemE/Materials for Energy Conversion and Storage) Colombi, G. (TU Delft ChemE/Materials for Energy Conversion and Storage) Schreuders, H. (TU Delft ChemE/O&O groep) Dam, B. (TU Delft ChemE/Chemical Engineering) Department ChemE/Chemical Engineering Date 2023 Abstract Photochromism has been reported for several rare-earth (RE) metal oxyhydride thin films and is characterized by a reversible darkening of the sample when exposed to light with energy greater than its optical bandgap. Here, we extend the range of known photochromic RE-oxyhydrides to include samarium oxyhydrides. These SmH3−2xOx thin films are made by reactive magnetron sputtering of as-deposited SmH1.9+δ and post-oxidation in the air to the oxyhydride phase. The deposition pressure during sputtering is used to control the resultant properties of the Sm-oxyhydride film, such as the optical bandgap, cubic lattice constant, photochromic contrast, and photochromic bleaching speed. Using Sm as the RE-cation results in slower bleaching speeds compared to other lanthanides. We posit that this is due to the stability of the Sm2+ state and the difficulty to oxidizing it back to the original RE3+ state. This points to the key role of the RE-cation charge state for the optical properties of the material. Subject OA-Fund TU Delft To reference this document use: http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:ee0a3a4f-f638-47ed-8d92-8997a4ca48e3 DOI https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0147423 ISSN 2158-3226 Source AIP Advances, 13 (5) Part of collection Institutional Repository Document type journal article Rights © 2023 D. Chaykina, G. Colombi, H. Schreuders, B. Dam Files PDF 055211_1_5.0147423.pdf 5.97 MB Close viewer /islandora/object/uuid:ee0a3a4f-f638-47ed-8d92-8997a4ca48e3/datastream/OBJ/view