High-Throughput Discovery of Vanadium Oxysulfide Complexes—A Novel Laser-Assisted Molten Salt and Electrochemical Synthesis Approach

Materials discovery typically follows a linear pathway from synthesis to characterization and application. However, in practice, continuous optimization requires iterative back-and-forth adjustments between these steps to fine-tune material properties. Traditional synthesis techniques such as Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD) and Molecular Beam Epitaxy (MBE), though effective, are time-consuming and lack control over localized reaction conditions. Here, we introduce a novel, rapid synthesis method that integrates laser heating, molten salt synthesis, and electrochemical synthesis to overcome these limitations.
In our approach, laser heating enables localized reactions, while molten salt serves as a medium to increase precursor concentration under laser exposure. Additionally, the molten salt doubles as an electrolyte, allowing the electrochemical potential to regulate redox conditions during the reaction. This precise control leads to the formation of vanadium oxysulfide complexes on prepatterned substrates from the eutectic mixture of vanadium pentoxide and potassium sulfate as precursor. Raman spectroscopy, including polarized Raman and RamanLight techniques, is employed to characterize the synthesized materials, providing insights into the complex vibrational modes of vanadium compounds across different locations.
This innovative synthesis approach offers a faster alternative to traditional methods, significantly enhancing the efficiency of materials discovery. Its scalability and high-throughput capabilities make it a promising platform for the rapid development of novel materials with optimized properties.