Oxidant peroxo-synthesized monoclinic BiVO4: Insights into the crystal structure deformation and the thermochromic properties

In this study, a simple and novel hydrothermal approach was developed for the controllable synthesis of monoclinic scheelite BiVO4 using V2O5, Bi(NO3)3 and H2O2 as the starting materials. Diverse morphologies of BiVO4 including rods and branches were obtained by adjusting the H2O2 addition. We characterized these samples using X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, in situ UV–vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy to investigate the effects of crystal structure deformation on their thermochromic behaviors. The results showed that the greater was the degree of structural distortion, the better was the thermochromic performance. As compared to rod-like morphology, the branch-like BiVO4 material exhibited better thermochromic properties owing to the greater distortion of crystal structure.