Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 20, 2025
11:16
Preparation of Silver-Palladium Alloyed Nanoparticles for Plasmonic Catalysis under Visible-Light Illumination
Published on: August 18, 2020
5.7K
Plasmon-enabled N2 photofixation on partially reduced Ti3C2 MXene
Binbin Chang1, Yanzhen Guo2, Donghai Wu2
1Shanghai Key Laboratory of Green Chemistry and Chemical Processes, School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China Normal University Shanghai 200241 China lli@chem.ecnu.edu.cn.
Chemical Science
|September 15, 2021
Summary
This study presents an efficient method for nitrogen (N2) photofixation using a novel titanium carbide (Ti3C2) MXene and gold nanosphere photocatalyst. The material efficiently converts N2 to ammonia (NH3) in water under ambient conditions with high selectivity.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Catalysis
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Titanium carbide (Ti3C2) MXene is a promising cocatalyst for photocatalysis due to its conductivity and tunable properties.
- Theoretical studies suggest Ti3C2 is ideal for nitrogen (N2) fixation, but experimental realization remains challenging.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop an efficient Ti3C2-based photocatalyst for N2 photofixation.
- To investigate the synergistic effects of Ti3C2 MXene and gold nanospheres in N2 fixation.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of a sandwich-like photocatalyst comprising Au nanospheres and layered Ti3C2.
- Surface engineering of Ti3C2 via H2 thermal reduction to create low-valence Ti sites (r-Ti3C2).
- Demonstration of N2 photofixation in pure water under ambient conditions.
Main Results:
- The r-Ti3C2/Au photocatalyst achieved efficient N2 photofixation to ammonia (NH3).
- Low-valence Ti sites on r-Ti3C2 captured and activated N2.
- Plasmonic hot electrons from Au nanospheres reduced activated N2, enhancing activity.
- The system exhibited ultrahigh selectivity for NH3 production over H2 evolution.
Conclusions:
- The developed r-Ti3C2/Au photocatalyst demonstrates a promising route for efficient and selective N2 photofixation.
- Synergistic action between Ti3C2 active sites and plasmon-induced hot electrons is key to enhanced performance.
- This work paves the way for designing advanced MXene-based photocatalysts for N2 fixation.
