Scientists find hidden intermediate materials for better batteries and solar fuels

Researchers at the University of Warwick and University of Birmingham studied intermediate phases formed as molecular precursors decompose during heating and discovered a new kinetically stabilized form of bismuth vanadate, β-BiVO4, with a larger band gap. Another hidden material showed high lithium storage capacity, pointing to next-generation batteries. The work was published in Nature Communications.

• New β-BiVO4 form identified with a larger band gap than known phases
• A second intermediate material stored large amounts of lithium
• Method combined solid-state NMR, X-ray diffraction and PDF analysis
• Findings published in Nature Communications (DOI: 10.1038/s41467-026-71702-7)