Lead bismuthate

Lead bismuthate is a semiconductor with the formula Pb (BiO₃)₂. It has only been discovered in recent years^[when?] in the laboratory as it is not naturally occurring. Lead bismuthate forms a pentavalent structure, significantly different from the regular ionic interactions of sodium bismuthate, but similar to that of strontium bismuthate.^[1] In the structure, six oxygen atoms are coordinated octahedrally to both the bismuth and lead atoms. The bismuth and oxygen atoms form negatively charged layers by creating repeating octahedral geometries. The positively charged lead atoms are then disbursed within the layers, forming a hexagonal unit cell, with a lead atom in each of the corners. The density of the crystal is 9.18 g/cm³. The formula weight is 233.99 g/mol.^[1] The volume of the crystal structure unit is 169.26 A³. Lattice parameters (a) is 5.321 angstroms.

Uses

Semiconductor properties

One of the first found uses of lead bismuthate was its ability to be a semiconductor. When doped with a metal that has one less electron (p-type doping) it has ability to conduct. Its coefficient of performance also increases to a range of 0.2 to 0.6.^[2] Its application as a semiconductor involves mixing Bi₂O₃, PbO, and SiO₂, into a paint and coat solar panels with the paint. Different solvents and compositions of the three chemicals yielded different semiconducting efficiencies.

Glass applications

Lead bismuthate has a broad transmittance range in the IR spectra.7 When doped with Li₂O to form Li₂O-[Bi₂O₃-PbO], the transmittance can increase beyond 10-15 micrometers. The figure above shows the IR spectra of 30Li2O-35[Bi2O3-PbO] glass composition, which contains 30 mole percent Li₂O.^[3]

Infusing varying mole concentrations of Li2O within the structure of lead bismuthate to form Li₂O-[Bi₂O₃-PbO] can increase the transmittance spectra of lead bismuthate glass within and beyond the visible range.7 The figure shows the UV-Vis spectra of lead bismuthate glass compositions with (a) 20, (b) 30, (c) 40, (d) 50 and (e) 60 mole percent of Li₂O.^[3]

Lead bismuthate glass has become highly useful in the industrial and electrical sector. Lead bismuthate glass has a density in the range of 7.639-7.699 g/cm³ and refractive index within the range of 2.47-2.9.^[1] But most importantly lead bismuthate glass has a uniquely large transmitting window, containing wavelengths in the infrared (IR) and UV-visible wavelengths.^[4] Due to this, lead bismuthate can be used in spectral devices, such as optical switches and photoionic devices, detection systems based on sensitivity to infrared (IR) and heat radiation, laser materials, optical waveguides, and crystal free fiber drawings.^[5] Though unfortunately, lead bismuthate glass cannot form on its own and is rather difficult to make. As lead bismuthate melts in the glass forming process, it becomes less stable and tends to crystallize as the temperature decreases, creating a less translucent and glossy product.^[2] Lead bismuthate has a high paramagnetic ion content. Thus the lead bismuthate in conjunction with increasing concentrations of metal cation or oxide adducts such as Fe₂O₃, MnO or Gd₂O₃ increases the stabilization effect and transmission window of the lead bismuthate resulting in the crystallization of the glass structure.^[6] For example, varying the mole percent of Li₂O in the lead bismuthate glass with the formula Li₂O-[Bi₂O₃-PbO] can increase the transmission range to wavelengths beyond 10–15 micrometers in the IR spectra and 420–450 nm in the UV-Vis spectra.^[3] Researchers are working to improve lead bismuthate by expanding the transmitting window to fit even more optical applications. Specifically, research has shown that if sufficient amounts of barium and zinc oxides are used simultaneously for the stabilization of lead bismuthate glasses, the decrease in the infrared transmission becomes insignificant compared to the stability of the glass.^[2] However, these oxides are not equal and cannot be entirely substituted by each other. Hence, both of them should be available and utilized together to minimize the crystallization and improve the glass stabilization so that there is only a slight decrease is the infrared transmission.^[2]

Organic decomposer applications

Lead bismuthate is photocatalytically active. It can be used for the decomposition of organic compounds under visible light irradiation.^[7] This is useful for environmental and water treatment purposes. However, lead bismuthate is not as effective at decomposing organic matter as other metal oxides or bismuthates due to its broad valence band and small band gap.^[7]

Notes

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Kumada, Nobuhiro; Miura, Akira; Takei, Takahiro; Yashima, Masatomo (2014). "Crystal structures of a pentavalent bismuthate, SrBi2O6 and a lead bismuth oxide (Pb1/3Bi2/3)O1.4". Journal of Asian Ceramic Societies. 2 (2): 150–153. doi:10.1016/j.jascer.2014.02.002.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d US 3723141, Dumbaugh, W., "Infrared transmissive lead bismuthate glasses", issued March 27, 1973, assigned to W Dumbaugh
^ ^a ^b ^c Pan, A; Ghosh, A (2000-06-01). "A new family of lead–bismuthate glass with a large transmitting window". Journal of Non-Crystalline Solids. 271 (1): 157–161. Bibcode:2000JNCS..271..157P. doi:10.1016/S0022-3093(00)00111-3. ISSN 0022-3093.
^ Kumada, Nobuhiro; Xu, Nan; Miura, Akira; Takei, Takahiro (2014). "Preparation and photocatalytic properties of new calcium and lead bismuthates". Journal of the Ceramic Society of Japan. 122 (1426): 509–512. doi:10.2109/jcersj2.122.509. ISSN 1882-0743.
^ Lin, H.; Pun, E. Y. B.; Chen, B. J.; Zhang, Y. Y. (1 March 2008). "Rare-earth ion doped lead- and cadmium-free bismuthate glasses". Journal of Applied Physics. 103 (5): 056103–056103–3. Bibcode:2008JAP...103e6103L. doi:10.1063/1.2891252. ISSN 0021-8979.
^ Simon, S; Pop, R; Simon, V; Coldea, M (1 December 2003). "Structural and magnetic properties of lead-bismuthate oxide glasses containing S-state paramagnetic ions" (PDF). Journal of Non-Crystalline Solids. 331 (1): 1–10. Bibcode:2003JNCS..331....1S. doi:10.1016/j.jnoncrysol.2003.08.079. ISSN 0022-3093.^{[dead link‍]}
^ ^a ^b Takei, Takahiro; Haramoto, Rie; Dong, Qiang; Kumada, Nobuhiro; Yonesaki, Yoshinori; Kinomura, Nobukazu; Mano, Takayuki; Nishimoto, Shunsuke; Kameshima, Yoshikazu; Miyake, Michihiro (1 August 2011). "Photocatalytic activities of various pentavalent bismuthates under visible light irradiation" (PDF). Journal of Solid State Chemistry. 184 (8): 2017–2022. Bibcode:2011JSSCh.184.2017T. doi:10.1016/j.jssc.2011.06.004. ISSN 0022-4596.

References

Culea, Eugen (1 January 2011). "Structural and magnetic behaviour of lead–bismuthate glasses containing rare earth ions". Journal of Non-Crystalline Solids. 357 (1): 50–54. Bibcode:2011JNCS..357...50C. doi:10.1016/j.jnoncrysol.2010.09.013. ISSN 0022-3093.
US 4235644, Christopher R. S. Needes, "Thick film silver metallizations for silicon solar cells", issued 1979-08-31, assigned to E I du Pont de Nemours and Co
Hong-Tao, Sun; De-Bao, Zhang; Shi-Qing, Xu; Shi-Xun, Dai; Li-Li, Hu; Zhong-Hong, Jiang (2004). "Physical Properties of Novel Lead-Bismuthate Glasses with Large Transmitting Windows". Chinese Physics Letters. 21 (9): 1759. Bibcode:2004ChPhL..21.1759S. doi:10.1088/0256-307X/21/9/023. ISSN 0256-307X. S2CID 250836248.
Pan, A.; Ghosh, A. (20 June 2002). "Correlation of relaxation dynamics and conductivity spectra with cation constriction in ion-conducting glasses". Physical Review B. 66 (1): 012301. Bibcode:2002PhRvB..66a2301P. doi:10.1103/PhysRevB.66.012301.
Pisarski, Wojciech A.; Pisarska, Joanna; Lisiecki, Radosław; Dominiak-Dzik, Grażyna; Ryba-Romanowski, Witold (2 April 2012). "Luminescence quenching of Dy3+ ions in lead bismuthate glasses". Chemical Physics Letters. 531: 114–118. doi:10.1016/j.cplett.2012.01.071. ISSN 0009-2614.

[:0-1] Kumada, Nobuhiro; Miura, Akira; Takei, Takahiro; Yashima, Masatomo (2014). "Crystal structures of a pentavalent bismuthate, SrBi2O6 and a lead bismuth oxide (Pb1/3Bi2/3)O1.4". Journal of Asian Ceramic Societies. 2 (2): 150–153. doi:10.1016/j.jascer.2014.02.002.

[:1-2] US 3723141, Dumbaugh, W., "Infrared transmissive lead bismuthate glasses", issued March 27, 1973, assigned to W Dumbaugh

[:2-3] Pan, A; Ghosh, A (2000-06-01). "A new family of lead–bismuthate glass with a large transmitting window". Journal of Non-Crystalline Solids. 271 (1): 157–161. Bibcode:2000JNCS..271..157P. doi:10.1016/S0022-3093(00)00111-3. ISSN 0022-3093.

[4] Kumada, Nobuhiro; Xu, Nan; Miura, Akira; Takei, Takahiro (2014). "Preparation and photocatalytic properties of new calcium and lead bismuthates". Journal of the Ceramic Society of Japan. 122 (1426): 509–512. doi:10.2109/jcersj2.122.509. ISSN 1882-0743.

[5] Lin, H.; Pun, E. Y. B.; Chen, B. J.; Zhang, Y. Y. (1 March 2008). "Rare-earth ion doped lead- and cadmium-free bismuthate glasses". Journal of Applied Physics. 103 (5): 056103–056103–3. Bibcode:2008JAP...103e6103L. doi:10.1063/1.2891252. ISSN 0021-8979.

[6] Simon, S; Pop, R; Simon, V; Coldea, M (1 December 2003). "Structural and magnetic properties of lead-bismuthate oxide glasses containing S-state paramagnetic ions" (PDF). Journal of Non-Crystalline Solids. 331 (1): 1–10. Bibcode:2003JNCS..331....1S. doi:10.1016/j.jnoncrysol.2003.08.079. ISSN 0022-3093.^{[dead link‍]}

[:3-7] Takei, Takahiro; Haramoto, Rie; Dong, Qiang; Kumada, Nobuhiro; Yonesaki, Yoshinori; Kinomura, Nobukazu; Mano, Takayuki; Nishimoto, Shunsuke; Kameshima, Yoshikazu; Miyake, Michihiro (1 August 2011). "Photocatalytic activities of various pentavalent bismuthates under visible light irradiation" (PDF). Journal of Solid State Chemistry. 184 (8): 2017–2022. Bibcode:2011JSSCh.184.2017T. doi:10.1016/j.jssc.2011.06.004. ISSN 0022-4596.

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