Band Gap Tunability in Sb-Alloyed BiVO4 Quaternary Oxides as Visible-Light Absorbers for Solar Fuel Applications

Loiudice, A. et al. Bandgap Tunability in Sb-Alloyed BiVO4 Quaternary Oxides as Visible Light Absorbers for Solar Fuel Applications. Advanced Materials, DOI: 10.1002/adma.201502361 (2015).

Scientific Achievement

A novel hotoanode material was discovered using a colloidal nanocrystal (NC)-seeded growth, that is of general applicability for other complex oxides and thus may aid in future material discovery.

 

Significance & impact

By developing a synthetic route that affords a broad composition tunability, Sb-alloyed BiVO4 was demonstrated to possess a band gap that linearly decreases with the Sb content.

 Reprinted with permission from Loiudice, A. et al. Bandgap Tunability in Sb-Alloyed BiVO4Quaternary Oxides as Visible Light Absorbers for Solar Fuel Applications. Advanced Materials, DOI: 10.1002/adma.201502361 (2015).  Copyright (20…

 

Reprinted with permission from Loiudice, A. et al. Bandgap Tunability in Sb-Alloyed BiVO4Quaternary Oxides as Visible Light Absorbers for Solar Fuel Applications. Advanced Materials, DOI: 10.1002/adma.201502361 (2015).  Copyright (2015) WILEY.

Research Details

  • BixSb1−x NCs were reacted with a V- precursor to form Sb–BiVO4photoanode films with Sb content of up to 20%.
  • XPS, EXAFS, and XANES were utilized to assess the composition and the Sb lattice occupational site.
  • Theoretical calculations are in good agreement with the observed trend and experimental values for the optical band gaps.

Contact: rbuonsanti@lbl.gov  

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