@article {1875, title = {Switchable Mirrors Based on Nickel-Magnesium Films}, journal = {Applied Physics Letters}, volume = {78}, number = {20}, year = {2001}, month = {05/2001}, pages = {3047-3049}, chapter = {3047}, abstract = {

An electrochromic mirror electrode based on reversible uptake of hydrogen in nickel magnesium alloy films is reported. Thin, magnesium-rich Ni-Mg films prepared on glass substrates by cosputtering from Ni and Mg targets are mirror-like in appearance and have low visible transmittance. Upon exposure to hydrogen gas or on cathodic polarization in alkaline electrolyte, the films take up hydrogen and become transparent. When hydrogen is removed, the mirror properties are recovered. The transition is believed to result from reversible formation of Mg2NiH4 and MgH2. A thin overlayer of palladium was found to enhance the kinetics of hydrogen insertion and extraction, and to protect the metal surface against oxidation.

}, doi = {10.1063/1.1371959 }, author = {Thomas J. Richardson and Jonathan L. Slack and Robert D. Armitage and Robert Kostecki and Baker Farangis and Michael D. Rubin} } @article {1828, title = {Solid State Gadolinium-Magnesium Hydride Optical Switch}, journal = {Applied Physics Letters}, volume = {75}, number = {13}, year = {1999}, month = {09/1999}, pages = {1863-1865}, chapter = {1863}, abstract = {

The optical switching properties of gadolinium-magnesium hydride have been demonstrated in a solid-state electrochromic device. With positive polarization of the hydride electrode, the visible reflectance approaches 35\% with virtually zero transmission, while with negative polarization, the visible transmission exceeds 25\% at 650 nm. The switching is reversible, with intermediate optical properties between the transparent and reflecting states.

}, url = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.124853}, author = {Robert D. Armitage and Michael D. Rubin and Thomas J. Richardson and Nada O{\textquoteright}Brien and Yong Chen} } @article {11766, title = {Effect of Hydrogen Insertion on the Optical Properties of PD-Coated Magnesium Lanthanides}, journal = {Electrochimica Acta}, year = {1998}, month = {9/1998}, address = {London, U.K.}, abstract = {

Metallic magnesium lanthanide thin films upon insertion of hydrogen transform to a highly transparent hydride phase. With a Pd overlayer, the transformation can be produced either by electrochemical insertion of hydrogen or by exposing the film to hydrogen gas. Unlike amorphous oxide electrochromics, the transformation is accompanied by a large change in visible reflectance (about 50\%). The optical switching effect in these materials is investigated in terms of changes in the complex refractive index as determined by variable-angle spectroscopic ellipsometric and normal-incidence radiometric measurements over the solar spectrum. Furthermore the optical effect of converting the Pd caplayer to Pd-H was determined. It is shown that the pd layer limits the visible transmittance of the hyrdrided stack to about 35-40\%. Whereas the extinction coefficient of the dehydrided LnMg-layers at 550 nm is between 2.2 and 3.1, it is as low as 10-4 in the transparent state.

}, author = {Klaus von Rottkay and Michael D. Rubin and Franck Michalak and Robert D. Armitage and Thomas J. Richardson and Jonathan L. Slack and Peter A. Duine} }