Hidden materials discovered that could boost batteries and solar fuels

Scientists have discovered hidden "in-between" materials that form briefly during heating, including a new form of bismuth vanadate with a different atomic structure and light interaction, potentially improving solar fuels, catalysts, and batteries. Published in Nature Communications, the research captured intermediate phases often overlooked because scientists focus on final products. The new β-BiVO4 has a larger band gap, altering sunlight absorption for hydrogen production, while another material showed high lithium storage capacity for batteries. Using advanced techniques like solid-state NMR and X-ray diffraction, researchers found that precursor choice and decomposition pathways control which materials form, suggesting many more useful hidden compounds could be deliberately created and stabilized for practical applications.