The Local-Scale Origin of Ferroic Properties in BiVO4
December 15, 2025
By combining neutron pair distribution function and synchrotron x-ray powder diffraction we uncover the structure-property relationships for BiVO4
Scientific Achievement
This work analyzed how the centrosymmetric material BiVO4 can show non-centrosymmetric polar properties (flexoelectricity, piezo-photocatalysis, and an anomalous photovoltaic effect) as it displays “hidden” local-scale features.
Significance and Impact
Optimization of the interatomic distances between lone pair-bearing cations and the anion sublattice creates new opportunities for the development of polar properties in compounds, such as BiVO4, with potential industrial use as photocatalysts.
Research Details
- Neutron pair distribution function investigation of the local structure of BiVO4 observed that at room temperature, local-scale dipoles exist in a paraelectric state, and the formation of these dipoles is highly dependent on the lattice volume and strain.
“The Local-Scale Origin of Ferroic Properties in BiVO4,” J. Am. Chem. Soc. 147, 7840−7848 (2025)
https://doi.org/10.1021/jacs.4c18032
