Bi2Fe4O9

bismuth iron oxide · mullite-type bismuth iron oxide

Bi2Fe4O9 is a semiconducting bismuth iron oxide compound that is being studied for its potential use as an oxygen-evolution catalyst.

Crystal structure of Bi2Fe4O9 (orthorhombic, Pbam (No. 55))
Ground-state structure · Materials Project
Overview

About bismuth iron oxide

Bi2Fe4O9 is a semiconducting bismuth iron oxide that crystallizes in a mullite-type structure. Its electronic properties and structural configuration make it an interesting candidate for research within the field of oxygen-evolution catalysts, where efficient charge transfer and surface stability are paramount.

As a near-hull material, this compound is considered synthesizable, bridging the gap between theoretical prediction and experimental realization. It serves as a specialized subject for researchers aiming to develop earth-abundant alternatives for electrochemical water splitting and related energy conversion processes.

At a glance

Key Properties

Cross-validated computational properties for bismuth iron oxide, aggregated across 2 databases.

Band Gap

1.24–2.03 eV
Range across DFT structures

Energy Above Hull

0.012 eV/atom
Best (lowest) across sources

Stability

Near hull (likely stable)
1 DFT source

Structures

3
2 databases, 2 space groups
Crystallography

Reported Structures

Lowest-energy structures reported for Bi2Fe4O9, ranked by energy above hull.

Space GroupCrystal SystemBand Gap (eV)E above hull (eV/atom)E/atom (eV)Density (g/cm³)
Pbam (No. 55)orthorhombic1.240.0117-7.4206.36
Pnma (No. 62)orthorhombic2.030.0171-7.4146.13
Pbam (No. 55)
Synthesis

Synthesis Routes

Literature-extracted synthesis procedures targeting Bi2Fe4O9.

Sol-Gel
Procedure available · ceder_solid_state
Sol-Gel
Procedure available · ceder_solid_state
Sol-Gel
Procedure available · ceder_solid_state
Sol-Gel
Procedure available · ceder_solid_state
Sol-Gel
Procedure available · ceder_solid_state
Uses

Applications

Where bismuth iron oxide is used.

Oxygen-evolution catalysisElectrochemical water splittingPhotocatalysis research
Reference

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about bismuth iron oxide, answered from cross-validated data.

What is Bi2Fe4O9?

Bi2Fe4O9 is a semiconducting bismuth iron oxide compound that is being studied for its potential use as an oxygen-evolution catalyst.

More questions
What is Bi2Fe4O9 used for?
bismuth iron oxide (Bi2Fe4O9) is used in oxygen-evolution catalysis, electrochemical water splitting, and photocatalysis research.
What is the band gap of Bi2Fe4O9?
bismuth iron oxide (Bi2Fe4O9) has a DFT-computed band gap of 1.24–2.03 eV across 3 reported structures.
Is Bi2Fe4O9 a metal, semiconductor, or insulator?
With a band gap up to 2.03 eV it is a semiconductor.
Is Bi2Fe4O9 thermodynamically stable?
bismuth iron oxide (Bi2Fe4O9) has a lowest energy above hull of 0.012 eV/atom (near hull (likely stable)).
What is the crystal structure of Bi2Fe4O9?
The lowest-energy reported polymorph of bismuth iron oxide (Bi2Fe4O9) is orthorhombic symmetry, space group Pbam (No. 55).
What is the density of Bi2Fe4O9?
The computed density of the ground-state structure of bismuth iron oxide (Bi2Fe4O9) is 6.36 g/cm³.
How many polymorphs of Bi2Fe4O9 are known?
3 structures of Bi2Fe4O9 are reported across 2 databases, spanning 2 distinct space groups.
How is Bi2Fe4O9 synthesized?
Literature-reported routes for Bi2Fe4O9 include sol-gel (5 procedures documented).
What elements does Bi2Fe4O9 contain?
bismuth iron oxide (Bi2Fe4O9) contains Bi, Fe, and O (3 elements).
Where does the data for Bi2Fe4O9 come from?
Bi2Fe4O9 data is cross-referenced from materials_project, nomad.
Comparison

How It Compares

Within the oxide oxygen-evolution catalysts class.

While many members of the oxide oxygen-evolution class, such as LiCoO2 or LiMn2O4, are primarily recognized for their roles in lithium-ion battery cathodes, Bi2Fe4O9 occupies a distinct niche focused on catalytic activity. Unlike the perovskite-structured BiFeO3, this compound features a unique mullite-type framework that influences its semiconducting behavior and potential catalytic surface interactions.

Explore

Related Compounds

Other Oxide Oxygen-Evolution Catalysts in the database.

Data sources & attribution
  • materials_project — Data from the Materials Project. Cite: Jain et al., APL Materials 1, 011002 (2013).
  • nomad — Data from NOMAD. Cite: Draxl & Scheffler, J. Phys. Mater. 2, 036001 (2019).

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