The photochromic properties of oxygen-containing yttrium hydride thin films are directly dependent on the oxygen concentration in the material.We use 16O/18O labelling to study oxidation of YH2 Essentials Kits films.Oxygen penetrates the film through grain boundaries and intercolumnar voids oxidising the whole film thickness, without pronounced surface oxidation or self-passivation.
Once oxidised, the mobility of oxygen in the films is low little boys hybrid shorts and no detectable changes in chemical composition of 18O-labeled YHO films is found under illumination.