Understanding the mechanism of photochromism in double-layer metal oxide using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy

[Display omitted] •We found the cause of photochromism shown in double-layer metal oxide.•Binding state of metal species along the perpendicular direction of the film were revealed.•Redox reaction was induced by UV exposure on the double-layer metal oxide. We investigated the photochromism in a doub...

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Published in:Chemical physics letters 2020-01, Vol.739, p.136973, Article 136973
Main Authors: Takaki, Hidetaka, Shinzato, Keita, Inoue, Shuhei, Miyaoka, Hiroki, Ichikawa, Takayuki, Matsumura, Yukihiko
Format: Article
Language:English
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Summary:[Display omitted] •We found the cause of photochromism shown in double-layer metal oxide.•Binding state of metal species along the perpendicular direction of the film were revealed.•Redox reaction was induced by UV exposure on the double-layer metal oxide. We investigated the photochromism in a double-layer metal oxide by using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy to identify the UV-induced reversible photochromism. We observed the metal oxide was reduced to a partially formed crystalline metal, and this was the cause of the photochromism. It was also found that this reduction induced by UV irradiation cracked the upper layer of magnesium-tin oxide and ultimately caused the reduced metal to oxidize slightly by being exposed to the atmosphere. This reversible transformation of a chemical species, on UV exposure, and discoloration induced by heating was considered to be a redox reaction.
ISSN:0009-2614
1873-4448
DOI:10.1016/j.cplett.2019.136973