title: Synthesis and materials chemistry of bismuth tris-(di-i-propylcarbamate): deposition of photoactive Bi2O3 thin films.
abstract: The bismuth carbamate Bi(O2CNPr(i)2)3, a tetramer in the solid-state, has been synthesized and used to deposit mixtures of bismuth oxides by aerosol-assisted chemical vapor deposition (AACVD). The nature of the deposited oxide is a function of both temperature and run-time. Initially, δ-Bi2O3 is deposited, over which grows a thick layer of β-Bi2O3 nanowires, the latter having an increasing degree of preferred orientation at higher deposition temperatures. The photocatalytic activity of a thin film of δ-Bi2O3 for the degradation of methylene blue dye was found to be similar to that of a commercial TiO2 film on glass, while the film overcoated with β-Bi2O3 nanowires was less active. Exposure of Bi(O2CNPr(i)2)3 to controlled amounts of moist air affords the novel oxo-cluster Bi8(O)6(O2CNPr(i)2)12, whose structure has also been determined.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Bath , Claverton Down, Bath, BA2 7AY, U.K.
authors.forename: Samuel D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Cosham
authors.forename: Michael S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Hill
authors.forename: Graeme A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Horley
authors.forename: Andrew L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Jordan
authors.forename: Kieran C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Molloy
authors.forename: David C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Stanton