Back to Search
Start Over
Solution-based synthesis of wafer-scale epitaxial BiVO 4 thin films exhibiting high structural and optoelectronic quality.
- Source :
-
Journal of materials chemistry. A [J Mater Chem A Mater] 2022 Apr 22; Vol. 10 (22), pp. 12026-12034. Date of Electronic Publication: 2022 Apr 22 (Print Publication: 2022). - Publication Year :
- 2022
-
Abstract
- We demonstrate a facile approach to solution-based synthesis of wafer-scale epitaxial bismuth vanadate (BiVO <subscript>4</subscript> ) thin films by spin-coating on yttria-stabilized zirconia. Epitaxial growth proceeds via solid-state transformation of initially formed polycrystalline films, driven by interface energy minimization. The (010)-oriented BiVO <subscript>4</subscript> films are smooth and compact, possessing remarkably high structural quality across complete 2'' wafers. Optical absorption is characterized by a sharp onset with a low sub-band gap response, confirming that the structural order of the films results in correspondingly high optoelectronic quality. This combination of structural and optoelectronic quality enables measurements that reveal a strong optical anisotropy of BiVO <subscript>4</subscript> , which leads to significantly increased in-plane optical constants near the fundamental band edge that are of particular importance for maximizing light harvesting in semiconductor photoanodes. Temperature-dependent transport measurements confirm a thermally activated hopping barrier of ∼570 meV, consistent with small electron polaron conduction. This simple approach for synthesis of high-quality epitaxial BiVO <subscript>4</subscript> , without the need for complex deposition equipment, enables a broadly accessible materials base to accelerate research aimed at understanding and optimizing photoelectrochemical energy conversion mechanisms.<br />Competing Interests: There are no conflicts to declare.<br /> (This journal is © The Royal Society of Chemistry.)
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 2050-7488
- Volume :
- 10
- Issue :
- 22
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Journal of materials chemistry. A
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 35757488
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1039/d1ta10732a