Scientific Achievement
A team of researchers probed bismuth vanadate photoelectrodes using multiple techniques and revealed nanoscale heterogeneity that affects its properties and performance.
Significance and Impact
This is the first time that this material has been studied using a multi-modal imaging approach, correlating properties and function to nanoscale features. These results pave the way for improving the performance of solar fuel technologies.
Research Details
- The researchers combined Scanning Transmission X-ray Microscopy (STXM) at the Advanced Light Source with atomic force microscopy and to determine relationships between local chemical composition, electronic structure, and nanoscale morphology.
- Theoretical calculations led by Molecular Foundry scientists predicted the X-ray absorption fingerprints of different chemical regions within the material.
