VANADIUM(V) ENVIRONMENTS IN BISMUTH VANADATES - A STRUCTURAL INVESTIGATION USING RAMAN-SPECTROSCOPY AND SOLID-STATE V-51 NMR

The Bi2O3V2O5 system was examined using Raman spectroscopy and solid state 51V wideline, magic-angle spinning (MAS), and nutation NMR spectroscopy. The methods are shown to be complementary in the identification of the various phases and in the characterization of their vanadium site symmetries. Most of the compositions examined (1:1 ≤ Bi:V ≤ 60:1) are multiphasic. Depending on the Bi:V ratio, the following phases have been identified: BiVO4, Bi4V2O11, a triclinic type-II phase, a cubic type-I phase, γ-Bi2O3 doped with V(V) (sillenite), and β-Bi2O3. Detailed spectroscopic characterization reveals that vanadium is tetrahedrally coordinated in all these compounds, and that the degree of symmetry increases with increasing Bi:V ratio. At the highest Bi:V ratios, the combined interpretation of the Raman and NMR data provides strong evidence for the presence of Bi5+O4 tetrahedra. © 1991.