The mechanochemical activation method was used to reduce synthesis times and temperatures for these oxides. The new procedure yielded amorphous powders of the forms, 2Bi2O3•V2O5 and Bi2O3•VO2. Annealing at low temperatures resulted in the room-temperature stabilization of the high-temperature phases, fluorite-Bi2VO5 and γ-Bi2VO5.5. Both of them transformed into more familiar phases upon heating at above 500C. The conductivities and activation energies of the phases were characteristic of good ionic conductors. The sintering conditions appeared to play an essential role.

Thermal and Electrical Behavior of γ-Bi2VO5.5 and f-Bi2VO5 Oxides Obtained from Mechanochemically Activated Precursors. P.Millan, J.M.Rojo, L.Pardo, J.Ricote, A.Castro: Materials Research Bulletin, 2001, 36[7-8], 1277-86