Understanding the mechanism behind the photochromic properties and light-induced structural and chemical changes in yttrium oxyhydride remains a challenge. This lack of knowledge limits our ability to address degradation, enhance photochromic performance, control color, improve durability, and fully realize the material’s applications. [...]

We present a method for the additive fabrication of planar magnetic nanoarrays with minimal surface roughness. Synthesis is accomplished by combining electron-beam lithography, used to generate nanometric patterned masks, with ion implantation in thin films [...]

We investigate the effective oxidation state and local environment of yttrium in photochromic YHO thin film structures produced by e-beam evaporation, along with their chemical structure and optical properties. Transmission electron microscopy images reveal the oxidized yttrium hydride thin film sample exhibiting a three-layered structure. [...]