Synthesis peculiarities of BiVO3 perovskite

We have experimentally investigated the synthesis of BiVO3 perovskite. We identified the solid-state redox reaction as a process that averts the formation of BiVO3. At elevated temperatures, Bi3+ oxidizes V3+ to yield metallic Bi and V5+ species. This process prevails over the formation of BiVO3. The BiVO3 perovskite structure requires a strong orbital coupling between Bi3+ and VO6 octahedra but this facilitates the electron transfer between V3+ and Bi3+. At the investigated temperatures (>400 °C), the activation energy for the electron transfer from V to Bi is exceeded and the structure is destabilized, but the synthesis of BiVO3 might be possible at lower temperatures for which the activation energy for the redox reaction is not exceeded.