title: Photochemical solution processing of films of metastable phases for flexible devices: the β-Bi2O3polymorph.
abstract: The potential of UV-light for the photochemical synthesis and stabilization of non-equilibrium crystalline phases in thin films is demonstrated for the β-Bi2O3polymorph. The pure β-Bi2O3phase is thermodynamically stable at high temperature (450-667 °C), which limits its applications in devices. Here, a tailored UV-absorbing bismuth(III)-N-methyldiethanolamine complex is selected as an ideal precursor for this phase, in order to induce under UV-light the formation of a -Bi-O-Bi- continuous network in the deposited layers and the further conversion into the β-Bi2O3polymorph at a temperature as low as 250 °C. The stabilization of the β-Bi2O3films is confirmed by their conductivity behavior and a thorough characterization of their crystal structure. This is also supported by their remarkable photocatalytic activity. Besides, this processing method has allowed us for the first time the preparation of β-Bi2O3films on flexible plastic substrates, which opens new opportunities for using these materials in potential applications not available until now (e.g., flexible photocatalytic reactors, self-cleaning surfaces or wearable antimicrobial fabrics). Therefore, photochemical solution deposition (PCSD) demonstrates to be not only an efficient approach for the low temperature processing of oxide films, but also an excellent alternative for the stabilization of metastable phases.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Ciencia de Materiales de Madrid, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (ICMM-CSIC), C/ Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz, 3, Cantoblanco, 28049, Madrid, Spain.|Departamento de Química, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Navarra, 31008, Pamplona, Spain.
authors.forename: Dulce
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pérez-Mezcua
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Ciencia de Materiales de Madrid, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (ICMM-CSIC), C/ Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz, 3, Cantoblanco, 28049, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Iñigo
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Bretos
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Ciencia de Materiales de Madrid, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (ICMM-CSIC), C/ Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz, 3, Cantoblanco, 28049, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Ricardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jiménez
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Ciencia de Materiales de Madrid, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (ICMM-CSIC), C/ Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz, 3, Cantoblanco, 28049, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Jesús
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ricote
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Ciencia de Materiales de Madrid, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (ICMM-CSIC), C/ Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz, 3, Cantoblanco, 28049, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Rafael J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Jiménez-Rioboó
authors.affiliation: CRISMAT-ENSICAEN and IUT-Caen, Université de Caen Normandie, 14050, Caen, France.
authors.forename: Cosmelina Gonçalves
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: da Silva
authors.affiliation: CRISMAT-ENSICAEN and IUT-Caen, Université de Caen Normandie, 14050, Caen, France.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Chateigner
authors.affiliation: Centro de Investigación en Materiales Avanzados, 31109, Chihuahua, Mexico.
authors.forename: Luis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Fuentes-Cobas
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Química, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Navarra, 31008, Pamplona, Spain.
authors.forename: Rafael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sirera
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Ciencia de Materiales de Madrid, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (ICMM-CSIC), C/ Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz, 3, Cantoblanco, 28049, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: M Lourdes
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Calzada
mesh_terms: D001729:Bismuth / Q000737:chemistry*; D002384:Catalysis; D018360:Crystallography, X-Ray; D005898:Glass; D008422:Materials Testing; D008670:Metals / Q000737:chemistry; D010087:Oxides / Q000737:chemistry; D055668:Photochemical Processes; D010777:Photochemistry / Q000379:methods*; D010969:Plastics; D012825:Silicon / Q000737:chemistry; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D013696:Temperature; D013816:Thermodynamics; D014025:Titanium / Q000737:chemistry*; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays; D014961:X-Ray Diffraction
chemical_list: D008670:Metals; D010087:Oxides; D010969:Plastics; D014025:Titanium; D001729:Bismuth; D012825:Silicon