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Hydrogenated Bismuth Molybdate Nanoframe for Efficient Sunlight‐Driven Nitrogen Fixation from Air
Author(s) -
Hao Yuchen,
Dong Xiaoli,
Zhai Shangru,
Ma Hongchao,
Wang Xiuying,
Zhang Xiufang
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
chemistry – a european journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.687
H-Index - 242
eISSN - 1521-3765
pISSN - 0947-6539
DOI - 10.1002/chem.201604510
Subject(s) - nitrogen fixation , nitrogen , sunlight , chemistry , molybdate , photocatalysis , catalysis , ammonia , photochemistry , bismuth , inorganic chemistry , organic chemistry , physics , astronomy
Sunlight‐driven dinitrogen fixation can lead to a novel concept for the production of ammonia under mild conditions. However, the efficient artificial photosynthesis of ammonia from ordinary air (instead of high pure N 2 ) has never been implemented. Here, we report for the first time the intrinsic catalytic activity of Bi 2 MoO 6 catalyst for direct ammonia synthesis under light irradiation. The edge‐exposed coordinatively unsaturated Mo atoms in an Mo−O coordination polyhedron can act as activation centers to achieve the chemisorption, activation, and photoreduction of dinitrogen efficiently. Using that insight as a starting point, through rational structure and defect engineering, the optimized Bi 2 MoO 6 sunlight‐driven nitrogen fixation system, which simultaneously possesses robust nitrogen activation ability, excellent light‐harvesting performance, and efficient charge transmission was successfully constructed. As a surprising achievement, this photocatalytic system demonstrated for the first time ultra‐efficient (1.3 mmol g −1 h −1 ) and stable sunlight‐driven nitrogen fixation from air in the absence of any organic scavengers.