Tailoring Charge Carriers through Solid-State Mechanochemical Synthesis Bismuth Nanoparticles Directly onto BiVO4 Surface

Abstract

Metallic nanoparticles remain the focus of diverse studies across various fields due to their exceptional properties and applications in biology, sensing, energy, and (electro)catalysis. Typical syntheses of metallic nanoparticles are solution-based and require the use of stabilizing agents. Although these surface agents prevent agglomeration, they also hinder access to active sites on the nanoparticle surface. A promising alternative is mechanochemical synthesis, offering a solvent and surfactant-free approach, which yields uniform nanoparticles with clean surfaces. Here, we employ ball milling as a mechanochemical method to prepare metallic bismuth nanoparticles in a single step, using BiVO4 semiconductor both as a bismuth source and a support. Our results demonstrate that, in addition to the formation of nanoparticles by the partial reduction of BiVO4, there is an increase in charge carriers in the semiconductor structure as probed by electrochemical experiments. The final properties of Bi@BiVO4 material make it a relevant candidate for (electro)catalysis.