The challenge of fine compositional tuning and microstructure control in complex oxides is overcome by developing a general two-step synthetic approach. Antimony-alloyed bismuth vanadate, which is identified as a novel light absorber for solar fuel applications, is prepared in a wide compositional range. The bandgap of this quaternary oxide linearly decreases with the Sb content, in agreement with first-principles calculations.
Keywords: colloidal synthesis; light absorbers; materials discovery; quaternary oxides; solar energy conversion.
© 2015 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.