On the structure of epitaxial YHx films

Hydrogen in thin epitaxial films and superlattices has gained renewed interest because of the hydrogen-induced novel optical and magnetic switching properties that have recently been revealed. In this contribution we report on structural details on the effect of hydrogen in epitaxial Y-films. X-ray diffraction reveals the response of the host metal lattice upon hydrogen loading. The hydrogen ordering within the hydride phases as well as the hydrogen concentration can be measured by neutron diffraction. The macroscopic aspects of the hydride formation like domain nucleation and growth are accessible by in-situ real time X-ray diffraction topography.