Vacancy‐Rich Monolayer BiO2−x as a Highly Efficient UV,Visible, and Near‐Infrared Responsive Photocatalyst

Vacancy‐rich layered materials with good electron‐transfer property are of great interest. Herein, a full‐spectrum responsive vacancy‐rich monolayer BiO_2?x has been synthesized. The increased density of states at the conduction band (CB) minimum in the monolayer BiO_2?x is responsible for the enhanced photon response and photo‐absorption, which were confirmed by UV/Vis‐NIR diffuse reflectance spectra (DRS) and photocurrent measurements. Compared to bulk BiO_2?x, monolayer BiO_2?x has exhibited enhanced photocatalytic performance for rhodamine B and phenol removal under UV, visible, and near‐infrared light (NIR) irradiation, which can be attributed to the vacancy V_Bi‐O′′′ as confirmed by the positron annihilation spectra. The presence of V_Bi‐O′′′ defects in monolayer BiO_2?x promoted the separation of electrons and holes. This finding provides an atomic level understanding for developing highly efficient UV, visible, and NIR light responsive photocatalysts.     

Superconductivity Induced by Oxygen Doping in Y2O2Bi

When doped with oxygen, the layered Y₂O₂Bi phase becomes a superconductor. This finding raises questions about the sites for doped oxygen, the mechanism of superconductivity, and practical guidelines for discovering new superconductors. We probed these questions in terms of first‐principles calculations for undoped and O‐doped Y₂O₂Bi. The preferred sites for doped O atoms are the centers of Bi₄ squares in the Bi square net. Several Bi 6p x /y bands of Y₂O₂Bi are raised in energy by oxygen doping because the 2p x /y orbitals of the doped oxygen make antibonding possible with the 6p x /y orbitals of surrounding Bi atoms. Consequently, the condition necessary for the “flat/steep” band model for superconductivity is satisfied in O‐doped Y₂O₂Bi.     

Vacancy‐Rich Monolayer BiO2−x as a Highly Efficient UV,Visible, and Near‐Infrared Responsive Photocatalyst

Vacancy‐rich layered materials with good electron‐transfer property are of great interest. Herein, a full‐spectrum responsive vacancy‐rich monolayer BiO_2−x has been synthesized. The increased density of states at the conduction band (CB) minimum in the monolayer BiO_2−x is responsible for the enhanced photon response and photo‐absorption, which were confirmed by UV/Vis‐NIR diffuse reflectance spectra (DRS) and photocurrent measurements. Compared to bulk BiO_2−x, monolayer BiO_2−x has exhibited enhanced photocatalytic performance for rhodamine B and phenol removal under UV, visible, and near‐infrared light (NIR) irradiation, which can be attributed to the vacancy V_Bi‐O′′′ as confirmed by the positron annihilation spectra. The presence of V_Bi‐O′′′ defects in monolayer BiO_2−x promoted the separation of electrons and holes. This finding provides an atomic level understanding for developing highly efficient UV, visible, and NIR light responsive photocatalysts.     

Photoluminescence Properties of a Promising Red-emitting Phosphor CaNb2O6:EU3+for Trichromatic White Light Emitting Diodes Application

Motivated by the need for new phosphors of white light emitting diode (WLED) application, Ca_0.95Nb₂ O₆:Eu³⁺_0.05 phosphors were synthesized by high temperature solid‐state reaction. Increasing the content of doped‐Eu³⁺ and adding the co‐activator Bi³⁺ to improve the photoluminescence (PL) intensity of Ca_1?xNb₂ O₆Eu³⁺_x phosphors were investigated in detail. The effects of Eu³⁺ were better than that of Bi³⁺ on the PL intensity of Ca_1?xNb₂ O₆Eu³⁺_x phosphors. Compared with Y₂O₂ S:0.05Eu³⁺ the Ca_0.70Nb₂ O₆:Eu³⁺_0.03 phosphor could be excited efficiently by UV (395 nm) light and emit the red light at 614 nm with line spectra, which were coupled well with the characteristic emission from UV‐Near UV LED. The CIE (International Commission on Illumination) chromaticity coordinates (x?0.654, y?0.348) of Ca_0.70Nb₂O₆:Eu³⁺_0.03 were close to the NTSC (National Television Standard Committee) standard values. Therefore Ca_0.70Nb₂ O₆:Eu³⁺_0.03 might find application to UV‐Near UV InGaN chip‐based white light emitting diodes, which is further proved by the LED fabrication with the Ca_0.70Nb₂ O₆:Eu³⁺_0.03 phosphor.     

XPS study of Ba_(0.6)K_(0.4)BiO_3

Single crystal Ba_(0.6)K_(0.4)BiO_3 was studied by using XPS.The results show that there isno evidence for the presence of Bi~(5+) in single crystal of Ba_(0.6)K_(0.4)BiO_3;instead,there is evidence forthe presence of mixed valent Bi~(3+) and Bi~((3+)-δ).Moreover,the O1s XPS results suggest the presenceof mixed valent O~(2-) and O~(1-),and the valence band spectrum suggests the high degree of covalencyfor Bi—O bonds.     

Elektrochemische Synthese von Perowskiten im System K/Ba/Pr/Bi/O

Electrochemical Synthesis of Perovskites in the System K/Ba/Pr/Bi/O An easy procedure for the synthesis of well crystalline samples of (K,Ba)(Pr,Bi)O₃ is provided by anodic oxidation of melts consisting of Ba(OH)₂ / KOH / Pr(NO₃)₃ / Bi(NO₃)₃, at comparatively low temperatures of about 220 °C. We have explored the influence of different parameters like temperature, potential of the working electrode, and composition of the electrolyte. Chemical and thermal analyses were performed. Products obtained at different experimental conditions revealed different Ba/K and Pr/Bi ratios with a large homogeneity range. X‐Ray powder diffraction and single crystal structure analyses of K_xBa_1?xPr_yBi_1?yO₃ proved these compounds to be cubic perovskites. Barium and potassium ions are disordered occupying the A‐sites while praseodym and bismuth ions share the B‐sites or are ordered, as indicated by a doubling of the lattice parameter. The composition x and y can independently be altered. XPS analysis and physical properties are reported and discussed.     

Thermal analysis of the (Bi<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript>)<Subscript>1−x</Subscript>(Y<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript>)<Subscript>x</Subscript> pigments

The synthesis of new compounds based on Bi₂O₃ is investigated because they can be used as new ecological inorganic pigments. Chemical compounds of the (Bi₂O₃)_1−x(Y₂O₃)_x type were synthesized. The host lattice of these pigments is Bi₂O₃ that is doped by Y³⁺ ions. The incorporation of doped ions provides the interesting colours and contributes to a growth of the thermal stability of these compounds. The simultaneous TG-DTA measurements were used for determination of the temperature region of the pigment formation and thermal stability of pigments. This paper also contains the results of the pigment characterization by X-ray powder diffraction and their colour properties.     

Spectroscopic,mechanical and magnetic characterization of some bismuth borate glasses containing gadolinium ions

The ultrasonic parameters, the optical parameters along with the IR spectroscopy and magnetic susceptibility studies have been employed to explore the role of Gd₂O₃ in the structure of the glasses xGd₂O₃–60B₂O₃–10MoO₃–(30-x)Bi₂O₃, with 0 ≤ x ≤ 7 mol %. IR analysis indicates that Gd₂O₃ is preferentially incorporated into the borate network-forming BO₄ units. It is assumed that Bi₂O₃ and MoO₃ enter the structure as modifiers in the form of BiO₆ and MoO₆ only. The compositional dependence of the mechanical and the optical parameters are interpreted in terms of the transformation of the structural units BO₃ into BO₄, the increase in the number of bridging oxygen atoms, and the substitution of high bond strength Gd–O, in the place of low bond strength Bi–O bond. The results of the magnetic susceptibility reveal the paramagnetic behavior as described by the Curie-Weiss law and indicating the presence of weak antiferromagnetic exchange interactions between Gd³⁺ ions. The magnetic entropy change of the glasses was determined according to the temperature and magnetic field dependence of magnetization.     

Crystal structure and electrical conductivity of cubic fluorite-based (YO1.5) x (WO3)0.15(BiO1.5)0.85- x (0?≤ ?x ≤?0.4) solid solutions

(WO₃)_0.15(BiO_1.5)_0.85 exhibits a tetragonal structure derived from the fluorite subcell. The electrical conductivity of (WO₃)_0.15(BiO_1.5)_0.85 is lower than that of Y₂O₃-doped Bi₂O₃. The structure and electrical conductivity of samples formulated as (YO_1.5) _x (WO₃)_0.15(BiO_1.5)_{0.85- x} (x = 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, and 0.4) were investigated. The as-sintered (YO_1.5)_0.1(WO₃)_0.15(BiO_1.5)_0.75 exhibited a single cubic structure that is isostructural with δ-Bi₂O₃. For x = 0.2, 0.3, and 0.4, the as-sintered samples consisted of a cubic fluorite structure and rhombohedral Y₆WO₁₂. After heat treatment at 600 °C for 200 h, the cubic structures are stable for x = 0.1, 0.3, and 0.4. A transformation from cubic to rhombohedral phase after heat treatment at 600 °C for 200 h was observed in the sample originally formulated as (YO_1.5)_0.2(WO₃)_0.15(BiO_1.5)_0.65.     

Thermal synthesis of the (Bi<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript>)<Subscript>1–x</Subscript>(Er<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript>)<Subscript>x</Subscript> pigments

The synthesis of new compounds based on Bi₂O₃ is investigated because they can be used as new environmentally friendly inorganic pigments. Chemical compounds of the (Bi₂O₃)_1–x(Er₂O₃)_x type were synthetized. The host lattice of these pigments is Bi2O3 that is doped by Er³⁺ ions. The incorporation of doped ions provides interesting colours and contributes to an increase in the thermal stability of these compounds. The simultaneous TG-DTA measurements were used for determination of the temperature region of the pigment formation and thermal stability of pigments.     

Thermal analysis of the Bi2O3-Y2O3-ZrO2 pigments

The synthesis of new compounds based on Bi₂O₃ is investigated because they can be used as new colour inorganic pigments. Chemical compounds of the Bi_2-xY_x/2Zr_3x/₈O₃ type were synthetised. The host lattice of these pigments is Bi₂O₃ that is doped by Y³⁺ and Zr⁴⁺ ions. The incorporation of doped ions provides interesting colours and contributes to a growth of the thermal stability of these compounds. The simultaneous TG-DTA measurements were used for determination of the temperature region of the pigment formation and thermal stability of pigments. This paper also contains the results of the pigment characterization by X-ray powder diffraction and their colour properties.     

Vacuum Ultraviolet Excited Photoluminescence Properties of Y2O2S：Eu^3＋,Bi^3＋ Phosphor

As an Hg-free lamp using phosphor, the Bi^3＋ and EH^3＋ co-doped Y2O2S phosphors were prepared and their luminescence properties under vacuum ultraviolet（VUV） excitation were investigated. The VUV photoluminescent intensity of Y2O2S：Eu^3＋ was weak, however, considerably stronger red emission at 626 nm with good color purity was observed in Y2O2S：Eu^3＋,Bi^3＋ systems. Investigation on the photoluminescence reveals that the strong VUV luminescence of Y2O2S：Eu^3＋,Bi^3＋ at 147 nm is mainly because the Bi^3＋ acts as a medium and effectively performs the energy transfer process： Y^3＋-O^2-→Bi^3＋→Eu^3＋, while the intense emission band at 172 nm is attributed to the absorption of the characteristic ^1So-^1P1 transition of Bi^3＋ and the direct energy transfer from Bi^3＋ to Eu^3＋. The Y2O2S：Eu^3＋,Bi^3＋ shows excellent VUV optical properties compared with the commercial （Y,Gd）BO3：Eu^3＋. Thus, the Y2O2S：Eu^3＋,Bi^3＋ can be a potential red VUV-excited candidate applied in Hg-free lamps for backlight of liquid crystal display.     

Ag3BiO3 und Ag5BiO4, die ersten Silberoxobismutate(III)

Ag₃BiO₃ and Ag₅BiO₄,the first Silver Oxobismuthates(III) Applying high oxygen pressures (100 MPa) Ag₃BiO₃ and Ag₅BiO₄ were prepared for the first time by reacting the binary components Ag₂O and Bi₂O₃ at temperatures between 770 and 800 K. Single crystals of both compounds were grown hydrothermally from Ag₂O and Bi₂O₃ at 620 K and at oxygen pressures of 10 MPa. The crystal structure determination (Ag₃BiO₃: I4₁, a = 14.1924(1), c = 8.7997(1) Å, Z = 16, 1 729 diffractometer data, R_w = 0.057; Ag₅BiO₄: P2₁/n, a = 5.855(1), b = 8.984(1), c = 12.457(1) Å, β = 91.49(1)Å, Z = 4, 2716 diffractometer data, R_w = 0.036) shows that in Ag₅BiO₄ bismuth approximately has a square pyramidal coordination by five oxygen atoms. Two such pyramids share an edge thus forming ‘isolated’ Bi₂O₈^10? anions. In Ag₃BiO₃ the same groups are linked by the terminal oxygen atoms to form a three dimensional network. In both structures the cation arrangements form variants of the Laves-phases MgCu₂ with silver occupying the copper positions. The Mg positions are ordered occupied by bismuth and silver.     

Thermodynamic Investigations in the Bi-O System

With the use of various calculation methods, unknown thermodynamic properties (TP) of Bi₂O₅ and BiO₂, as well as the temperature dependencies of reduced Gibbs energy (TDRGE) were determined. With the help of thermodynamic simulation (TS) methods at 300–1500 K, common P=10⁵ Pa the thermal decompositions of condensed Bi₂O₅, BiO₂, Bi₂O₃ and BiO have been investigated in initial atmosphere of O₂ and Ar. Every condensed substance was presented as the individual phase. It was found that Bi_xO_yoxides have temperature stability fields and also districts of possible mixture formation. During equilibrium heating of Bi_xO_y oxides the various types of phase transformations were observed. The characteristics of some transformations were estimated. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Phase Equilibria in the BiO<Subscript>1.5</Subscript>–CaO–CoO<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">y</Emphasis></Subscript> System

Phase equilibria at subsolidus area of quasi-triple BiO_1.5–CaO–CoO_y system in air have been studied. The formation of triple oxide Bi₂Ca₂Co_1.7O_x and limited number of solid solutions (Ca,Bi)₃Co₄O_9+δ has been established. The triangulation of BiO_1.5–CaO–CoO_y system in air at 973 K has been carried out.     

Homologous Silver Bismuth Chalcogenide Halides (N,x)P. III. The (4, x)P, (5, x)P,and (7, x)P Structure Families of Modular Compounds with Tunable Composition and Structure

The crystal structures of six members of the homologous series with general formula [BiQX]₂[Ag_xBi_1?xQ_2?2xX_2x?1]_N+1 (Q = S, Se; X = Cl, Br; 1/2 ≤ x ≤ 1) and N = 4, 5, or 7 were determined by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. The series are characterized by the parameters N and x and are denoted ^{(N, x)}P. Ag₃Bi₄S₆Cl₃ (x = 0.60) (I) , Ag_3.5Bi_3.5S₅Br₄ (x = 0.70) (II) and Ag_3.65Bi_3.35Se_4.70Br_4.30 (x = 0.73) (III) belong to ^{(4, x})P series Ag_5xBi_7?5xQ_12?10xX_10x?3 and adopt the AgBi₆S₉ structure type. The ^{(5, x)}P compound Ag_3.66Bi_4.34S_6.68Br_3.32 (IV) , which corresponds to x = 0.61 in Ag_6xBi_8?6xS_14?12xBr_12x?4, crystallizes isostructurally to AgBi₃S₅. The compounds Ag_4.56Bi_5.44Se_8.88Br_3.12 (x = 0.57) (V) and Ag_5.14Bi_4.86S_7.76Br_4.24 (x = 0.64) (VI) , which are members of ^{(7, x)}P series Ag_8xBi_10?8xQ_18?16xBr_16x?6, adopt the Ag₃Bi₇S₁₂ structure type. In the monoclinic crystal structures (space group C2/m) two kinds of layered modules alternate along [001]. Modules of type A uniformly consist of paired rods of face‐sharing monocapped trigonal prisms around Bi atoms with octahedra around mixed occupied metal positions (M = Ag/Bi) between them. Modules of type B are composed of [MZ₆] octahedra, which are arranged in NaCl‐type fragments of thickness N. All structures exhibit Ag/Bi disorder in octahedrally coordinated metal positions as well as Q/X mixed occupation of some anion positions. Corresponding to their black color, all compounds are narrow‐gap semiconductors (E_g = 0.35 eV for (II) ). General characteristics of the entire class of ^{(N, x)}P compounds are gathered in a catalogue.     

Ein alternativer Weg zur Darstellung von Bi2Sr2CaCu2Ox,YBa2Cu3O7−δ, und YBa2Cu3−xMxO7−δ (M  Ni,Ag und x ≤ 33 Mol%)

An Alternative Method for Preparation of Bi₂Sr₂CaCu₃O_x, YBa₂Cu₃O_7?δ, and YBa₂Cu_3?xM_xO_7?δ (M ? Ni, Ag and x ≤ 33 Mol%) Oxidation of quenched melts of metals in a well defined argon/oxygen atmosphere has been found as an alternative method to prepare hight purity samples of Bi₂Sr₂CaCu₂O_x without Pb-stabilization. A special equipment for the oxidation of powder samples will be described. By our new method it is also possible to prepare YBa₂Cu₃O_7?δ and derivatives of this compound, where Cu is substituted by high amounts of Ni or Ag.     

A Redox‐Confused Bismuth(I/III) Triamide with a T‐Shaped Planar Ground State

Reaction of a tethered triamine ligand with Bi(NMe₂)₃ gives a Bi triamide, for which a Bi^I electronic structure is shown to be most appropriate. The T‐shaped geometry at bismuth provides the first structural model for edge inversion in bismuthines and the only example of a planar geometry for pnictogen triamides. Analogous phosphorus compounds exhibit a distorted pyramidal geometry because of different Bi?N and P?N bond polarities. Although considerable Bi^I character is indicated for the title Bi triamide, it exhibits reactivity similar to Bi^III electrophiles, and expresses either a vacant or a filled p orbital at Bi, as evidenced by coordination of either pyridine N‐oxide or W(CO)₅. The product of the former shows evidence of coordination‐induced oxidation state change at bismuth.     

Substitution Effects in Zintl Phases: Synthesis and Crystal Structure of the Novel Phases Ae3Sn4−xBi1+x (x ≤ 1; Ae = Sr,Ba) Containing Shubnikov‐Type Nets $^{2}_{\infty}\rm [Sn_{4-x}Bi_{x}]$

The compounds Ae₃Sn_4?xBi_1+x (Ae = Sr, Ba) with x < 1 have been synthesized by solid‐state reactions in welded Nb tubes at high temperature. Their structures were determined by single crystal X‐ray diffraction studies to be tetragonal; space group I4/mcm (No. 140); Z = 4, with a = 8.968(1) Å, c = 12.859(1) Å for Sr₃Sn_3.36Bi_1.64(3) ( 1 ) and a = 9.248(2), c = 13.323(3) Å for Ba₃Sn_3.16Bi_1.84(3) ( 2 ). The structure consists of two interpenetrating networks formed by a 3D Ae_6/2Bi substructure (anti‐ReO₃ type) forming the host, and layers of interconnected four‐member units [Sn_4?xBi_x] with “butterfly”‐like shape as the guest. According to the Zintl‐Klemm concept, the compounds are slightly electron deficient and will be charge balanced for x = 1. The electronic structures of Ae₃Sn_4?xBi_1+x calculated by the TB‐LMTO‐ASA method indicate that the compounds correspond to ideal semiconducting Zintl phases with a narrow band gap for x = 1 (zero‐gap semiconductor). The origin of the slight deviation from the optimal electron count for a valance compound is discussed.     

Bi4Ge3O12 at the onset of pressure‐induced amorphization

The crystal structure of tetrabismuth tris(germanate), Bi₄Ge₃O₁₂ (I3d, Z = 4), is stable to at least 7.30 GPa, as demonstrated by hydrostatic single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction measurements in a diamond anvil cell at room temperature. The highest pressure reached in this study is close to the onset of amorphization at about 8 GPa. The Bi and Ge atoms are located at the 16c (3) and 12a () Wyckoff positions, respectively. The compression mainly affects the distorted BiO₆ octahedra, while the GeO₄ tetrahedra are relatively rigid. When compared with the values obtained under ambient conditions, the long Bi—O distances decrease with increasing pressure, while the short Bi—O distances do not change.