These “in-between” materials, previously overlooked by science, offer new ways to tune the efficiency of solar hydrogen production and increase the storage capacity of future batteries.
Published in Nature Communications, the study reveals that the transition from a starting chemical (A) to a final product (B) contains several intermediate stages that possess unique, useful properties for solar fuels and batteries.
One of the most significant finds is a previously unknown form of bismuth vanadate, dubbed BiVO₄. Bismuth vanadate is a superstar in the clean energy world because its “band gap” allows it to absorb sunlight efficiently enough to split water and create hydrogen fuel.
The study’s implications extend into the world of energy storage. One of the other “in-between” materials identified during the heating process demonstrated a remarkable ability to store large amounts of lithium. This suggests that these intermediate phases, which were previously ignored or unseen, could be key components for next-generation battery technologies.
To capture these fleeting “stepping stone” materials, the team combined several advanced imaging and analysis techniques:
By carefully controlling the chemistry of the starting molecules (precursors) and the temperature at which they are heated, the team proved they can “freeze” these kinetic stages that are otherwise impossible to create using standard manufacturing methods.
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