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Li M, Shao Z, Li Z, Zhu D, Wang J, Karazhanov SZ, Jin P, Cao X. Co-Sputtering Crystal Lattice Selection for Rare Earth Metal-Based Multi Cation and Mixed Anion Photochromic Films. NANOMATERIALS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 13:684. [PMID: 36839052 PMCID: PMC9960944 DOI: 10.3390/nano13040684] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2023] [Revised: 01/28/2023] [Accepted: 02/07/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Rare-earth oxyhydride (ReOxHy) films are novel inorganic photochromic materials that have strong potential for applications in windows and optical sensors. Cations greatly influence many material properties and play an important role in the photochromic performance of ReOxHy. Here we propose a strategy for obtaining Gd1-zYzOxHy films (z = 1, 0.7, 0.5, 0.4, 0.35, 0.25, 0.15, 0) using one-step direct-current (DC) magnetron co-sputtering. Distinct from the mixed anion systems, such material would belong to the class of mixed anion and mixed cation materials. For Gd1-zYzOxHy films, different co-doping ratios can help tune the contrast ratio (that is, the difference between coloration and bleaching transmittance) and cycling degradation, which may be related to the lattice constant. X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns show that the lattice constant increases from 5.38 Å for YOxHy to 5.51 Å, corresponding to Gd0.75Y0.25OxHy. The contrast ratio, in particular, can be enhanced to 37% from 6.3% by increasing the lattice constant, directly controlled by the co-sputtering power. When the lattice constant decreases, the surface morphology of the sample with the smallest lattice constant is essentially unchanged by testing in air with normal oxidation for 100 days, suggesting great improvement in environment durability. However, the crystal structure cannot be overly compressed, and co-sputtering with Cr gives black opaque films without photochromic properties. Moreover, because the atomic mass of different rare earth elements is different, the critical pressure p* (films deposited at p < p* remain metallic dihydrides) is different, and the preparation window is enlarged. Our work provides insights into innovative photochromic materials that can help to achieve commercial production and application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ming Li
- State Key Laboratory of High Performance Ceramics and Superfine Microstructure, Shanghai Institute of Ceramics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200050, China
- Center of Materials Science and Optoelectronics Engineering, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Zewei Shao
- Hangzhou Global Scientific and Technological Innovation Center, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 311215, China
| | - Zhongshao Li
- State Key Laboratory of High Performance Ceramics and Superfine Microstructure, Shanghai Institute of Ceramics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200050, China
| | - Dandan Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of High Performance Ceramics and Superfine Microstructure, Shanghai Institute of Ceramics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200050, China
- Center of Materials Science and Optoelectronics Engineering, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Junwei Wang
- Innovation Cooperation Center (Bangkok), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200040, China
| | - Smagul Zh. Karazhanov
- Department for Solar Energy Materials and Technologies, Institute for Energy Technology, 2027 Kjeller, Norway
| | - Ping Jin
- State Key Laboratory of High Performance Ceramics and Superfine Microstructure, Shanghai Institute of Ceramics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200050, China
| | - Xun Cao
- State Key Laboratory of High Performance Ceramics and Superfine Microstructure, Shanghai Institute of Ceramics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200050, China
- Center of Materials Science and Optoelectronics Engineering, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
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Colombi G, De Krom T, Chaykina D, Cornelius S, Eijt SWH, Dam B. Influence of Cation (RE = Sc, Y, Gd) and O/H Anion Ratio on the Photochromic Properties of REO x H 3-2x Thin Films. ACS PHOTONICS 2021; 8:709-715. [PMID: 33842670 PMCID: PMC8025701 DOI: 10.1021/acsphotonics.0c01877] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Rare-earth oxyhydride REO x H3-2x thin films prepared by air-oxidation of reactively sputtered REH2 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 REH2. 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.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giorgio Colombi
- Materials
for Energy Conversion and Storage, Department of Chemical Engineering, Delft University of Technology, Van der Maasweg 9, NL-2629HZ Delft, The Netherlands
| | - Tom De Krom
- Fundamental
Aspects of Materials and Energy, Department of Radiation Science and
Technology, Faculty of Applied Sciences, Delft University of Technology, Mekelweg 15, NL-2629
JB Delft, The Netherlands
| | - Diana Chaykina
- Materials
for Energy Conversion and Storage, Department of Chemical Engineering, Delft University of Technology, Van der Maasweg 9, NL-2629HZ Delft, The Netherlands
- Fundamental
Aspects of Materials and Energy, Department of Radiation Science and
Technology, Faculty of Applied Sciences, Delft University of Technology, Mekelweg 15, NL-2629
JB Delft, The Netherlands
| | - Steffen Cornelius
- Materials
for Energy Conversion and Storage, Department of Chemical Engineering, Delft University of Technology, Van der Maasweg 9, NL-2629HZ Delft, The Netherlands
- Fraunhofer
Institute for Organic Electronics, Electron
Beam and Plasma Technology (FEP), Winterbergstrasse 28, 01277 Dresden, Germany
| | - Stephan W. H. Eijt
- Fundamental
Aspects of Materials and Energy, Department of Radiation Science and
Technology, Faculty of Applied Sciences, Delft University of Technology, Mekelweg 15, NL-2629
JB Delft, The Netherlands
| | - Bernard Dam
- Materials
for Energy Conversion and Storage, Department of Chemical Engineering, Delft University of Technology, Van der Maasweg 9, NL-2629HZ Delft, The Netherlands
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