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Band edge electronic structure of BiVO(4): elucidating the role of the Bi s and V d orbitals

Aron Walsh, Y Yan, M N Huda, M M Al-Jassim, S H Wei

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Abstract

We report the first-principles electronic structure of BiVO(4), a promising photocatalyst for hydrogen generation. BiVO(4) is found to be a direct band gap semiconductor, despite having band extrema away from the Brillouin zone center. Coupling between Bi 6s and O 2p forces an upward dispersion of the valence band at the zone boundary; however, a direct gap is maintained via coupling between V 3d, O 2p, and Bi 6p, which lowers the conduction band minimum. These interactions result in symmetric hole and electron masses. Implications for the design of ambipolar metal oxides are discussed.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)547-551
Number of pages5
JournalChemistry of Materials
Volume21
Issue number3
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2009

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

  1. SDG 7 - Affordable and Clean Energy
    SDG 7 Affordable and Clean Energy

Keywords

  • water
  • visible-light
  • wave basis-set
  • photoelectrochemical
  • decomposition
  • thin-films
  • alpha-pbo
  • solar hydrogen-production
  • photocatalytic activity
  • total-energy calculations
  • ab-initio

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