DOE OSTI2018
BiVO4 crystallizes in the triclinic P1 space group. The structure is three-dimensional. V5+ is bonded in a tetrahedral geometry to four O2- atoms. There is two shorter (1.72 Å) and two longer (1.78 Å) V–O bond length. Bi3+ is bonded in a 6-coordinate geometry to six O2- atoms. There are a spread of Bi–O bond distances ranging from 2.18–2.87 Å. There are four inequivalent O2- sites. In the first O2- site, O2- is bonded in a 2-coordinate geometry to one V5+ and two equivalent Bi3+ atoms. In the second O2- site, O2- is bonded in a distorted water-like geometry to one V5+ and one Bi3+ atom. In the third O2- site, O2- is bonded in a distorted water-like geometry to one V5+ and one Bi3+ atom. In the fourth O2- site, O2- is bonded in a 2-coordinate geometry to one V5+ and two equivalent Bi3+ atoms.