Synthesis and structural investigation of a unique columnar phase in the Bi2O3–TeO2–V2O5 System.

A new columnar phase Bi(11.65)Te(1.35)V(5)O(34-δ) (δ ∼ 1.3) containing VO(4) tetrahedra has been identified for the first time in the Bi(2)O(3)-TeO(2)-V(2)O(5) system. The phase formation and the extent of substitution of Te(4+) for Bi(3+) ions in order to stabilize V(5+) in this composition have been confirmed by the single crystal analysis, combined with the powder X-ray diffraction of the solid state synthesized bulk crystalline samples. The oxide crystallizes in a monoclinic crystal system, space group P2/c, with unit cell parameters a = 11.4616(7) Å, b = 5.7131(3) Å, c = 23.5090(18) Å, β = 101.071° (6) (Z = 2). The structure retains the basic features of the columnar oxides with the presence of Bi(10.65)Te(1.35)O(14)(9.35n+) columns along the (010) direction, surrounded by (VO(4)) tetrahedra placed in the planes parallel to (100) and (001), with an isolated bismuth atom in between the columns. The composition with a limited Te(4+) substitution, Bi(11.65)Te(1.35)V(5)O(34-δ) (δ ∼ 1.3), exists with a surprisingly high oxygen deficiency as compared to the stoichiometrically known columnar oxides such as Bi(13)Mo(4)VO(34), Bi(12)Te(1)Mo(3)V(2)O(34), and Bi(11)Te(2)Mo(2)V(3)O(34). The structure of this interesting member of the columnar family of oxides based on the single crystal X-ray diffraction and the Raman spectroscopic studies indicates the possibility of the distribution of the oxygen vacancies among the VO(4) tetrahedral units. Further confirmation for the formation of vanadium stabilized columnar structures has been provided by the successful preparation of Bi(11.65)Te(1.35)V(4)CrO(34-δ) (δ ∼ 0.83) and Bi(11.65)Te(1.35)V(4)WO(34-δ) (δ ∼ 0.83) phases. Preliminary investigation of the photocatalytic efficiencies of the oxides Bi(11.65)Te(1.35)V(5)O(34-δ), Bi(11.65)Te(1.35)V(4)CrO(34-δ), and Bi(11.65)Te(1.35)V(4)WO(34-δ) revealed moderate photocatalytic activities for the decomposition of the dyes such as Rhodamine B under UV-vis light irradiation.