The Bi3+ 6s and 6p electron binding energies in relation to the chemical environment of inorganic compounds

Abstract

This paper provides an overview and interpretation of the spectroscopic data of the Bi3+ activator ion in 117 different inorganic compounds. The energies of the metal-to-metal charge transfer and the interconfigurational transitions of Bi3+ were collected from the archival literature. Using these energies, in combination with the electron binding energies in the host conduction and valence band, the binding energies in the 6s ground state and 6p excited state were determined relative to the vacuum level. The locations of the Bi3+ energy levels within the forbidden gap of the host compound provides valuable insight in the physical properties of the Bi3+ activator ion in different compounds.