‘Hidden’ stages of material creation for solar fuels and batteries discovered

Warwick and Birmingham researchers found hidden intermediate phases that appear as materials are heated.

Using advanced structural techniques, they tracked precursor-to-material changes and discovered a new β-BiVO4 form.

They also identified a lithium-rich phase with promising properties for solar fuels, catalysis, electronics, and batteries.

The study shows that valuable materials can emerge briefly during synthesis, not just in the final product.