Data for Thermal transformation of V+Bi+Zn single-source precursors: identification of amorphous intermediates and a new kinetic phase of BiVO4

We show that thermal decomposition of well-defined mono-, bi- and trimetallic polyoxovanadates (POVs) proceeds through a series of intermediate amorphous and crystalline species which we characterize using solid-state NMR spectroscopy, Pair-Distribution Function (PDF) analysis and in-situ X-ray diffraction, before forming crystalline V2O5 and BiVO4 products.

This synthetic strategy enables the formation of phases inaccessible using other routes including a previously unknown polymorph of BiVO4 which we name β-BiVO4 due to its similarity to β-SnWO4. Local structure information also reveals the temperature dependent incorporation of Zn dopants into BiVO4. The study also explores the electrochemical properties of new amorphous mixed-valence vanadium oxides as Li-ion battery electrodes.