Effect of ZnSe doping on the photochromic and thermochromic properties of MoO3 thin films

Abstract The photochromic and thermochromic properties of molybdenum oxide (MoO 3 ) thin films doped with zinc selenide (ZnSe) were studied. The films were deposited on glass substrates by thermal evaporation of MoO 3 –ZnSe powder mixtures. The characteristic optical absorption band attributed to color center formation indicated an enhanced photochromic effect for MoO 3 films doped with ZnSe 5 mol% relative to undoped MoO 3 samples. In addition, the thermochromic effect was most pronounced for ZnSe 5 mol% samples annealed at 23–125 °C, and for undoped samples annealed at 125–225 °C. The chromogenic properties were essentially suppressed for MoO 3 doped with ZnSe 10 mol%.