Visualization of hydrogen migration in solids using switchable mirrors

F. J. A. den Broeder, S. J. van der Molen (), M. Kremers, J. N. Huiberts, D. G. Nagengast, A. T. M. van Gogh, W. H. Huisman, N. J. Koeman, B. Dam, J. H. Rector, S. Plota, M. Haaksma, R. M. N. Hanzen, R. M. Jungblut, P. A. Duine and R. Griessen
Additional contact information
F. J. A. den Broeder: Philips Research Laboratories
S. J. van der Molen: Institute COMPAS and Faculty of Physics and Astronomy, Vrije Universiteit
M. Kremers: Institute COMPAS and Faculty of Physics and Astronomy, Vrije Universiteit
J. N. Huiberts: Institute COMPAS and Faculty of Physics and Astronomy, Vrije Universiteit
D. G. Nagengast: Institute COMPAS and Faculty of Physics and Astronomy, Vrije Universiteit
A. T. M. van Gogh: Institute COMPAS and Faculty of Physics and Astronomy, Vrije Universiteit
W. H. Huisman: Institute COMPAS and Faculty of Physics and Astronomy, Vrije Universiteit
N. J. Koeman: Institute COMPAS and Faculty of Physics and Astronomy, Vrije Universiteit
B. Dam: Institute COMPAS and Faculty of Physics and Astronomy, Vrije Universiteit
J. H. Rector: Institute COMPAS and Faculty of Physics and Astronomy, Vrije Universiteit
S. Plota: Institute COMPAS and Faculty of Physics and Astronomy, Vrije Universiteit
M. Haaksma: Institute COMPAS and Faculty of Physics and Astronomy, Vrije Universiteit
R. M. N. Hanzen: Philips Research Laboratories
R. M. Jungblut: Philips Research Laboratories
P. A. Duine: Philips Research Laboratories
R. Griessen: Institute COMPAS and Faculty of Physics and Astronomy, Vrije Universiteit

Nature, 1998, vol. 394, issue 6694, 656-658

Abstract: Abstract Switchable mirrors1,2,3 made of thin films of the hydrides of yttrium (YHx), lanthanum (LaHx) or rare-earth metals exhibit spectacular changes in their optical properties as x is varied from 0 to 3. For example, α-YHx 2.85 is a yellowish transparent semiconductor. Here we show that this concentration dependence of the optical properties, coupled with the high mobility of hydrogen in metals, offers the possibility of real-time visual observation of hydrogen migration in solids. We explore changes in the optical properties of yttrium films in which hydrogen diffuses laterally owing to a large concentration gradient. The optical transmission profiles along the length of the film vary in such a way as to show that the formation of the various hydride phases is diffusion-controlled. We can also induce electromigration of hydrogen, which diffuses towards the anode when a current flows through the film. Consequently, hydrogen in insulating YH3−δ behaves as a negative ion, in agreement with recent strong-electron-correlation theories4,5. This ability to manipulate the hydrogen distribution (and thus the optical properties) electrically might be useful for practical applications of these switchable mirrors.

Date: 1998
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.nature.com/articles/29250 Abstract (text/html)
Access to the full text of the articles in this series is restricted.

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:nat:nature:v:394:y:1998:i:6694:d:10.1038_29250

Ordering information: This journal article can be ordered from
https://www.nature.com/

DOI: 10.1038/29250

Access Statistics for this article

Nature is currently edited by Magdalena Skipper

More articles in Nature from Nature
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Sonal Shukla () and Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing ().