Defect-Rich Gas-Solution Photocatalytic Systems for Nitrogen Reduction Reactions: Enabling Energy and Carbon...

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Catalysis
• Green Chemistry

Background:

• Ammonia production is vital for global food security and energy sustainability.
• Current methods often require high energy input and rely on fossil fuels.
• Developing efficient and sustainable ammonia synthesis routes is a global priority.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel, efficient, and sustainable gas-solution (G-S) photocatalytic nitrogen reduction reaction (PNRR) system for ammonia synthesis.
• To utilize ambient air as the nitrogen source, simplifying the process and reducing costs.
• To investigate the performance and stability of a molybdenum oxide on carbon fiber paper (MoO3@CFP) catalyst.

Main Methods:

• A G-S PNRR system was designed using MoO3@CFP catalyst and a low-cost plant lamp.
• Ambient air was used as the nitrogen source, eliminating the need for nitrogen gas bubbling.
• Material characterization techniques were employed to analyze the catalyst's structure and stability.

Main Results:

• The MoO3@CFP catalyst exhibited an amorphous structure with abundant active sites and defect centers.
• Optimized conditions yielded a mass-normalized ammonia production rate of 15.144 mmol·g−1·h−1.
• The system demonstrated sustained performance over five consecutive cycles, confirming catalyst stability.

Conclusions:

• The developed G-S PNRR system offers a simplified, scalable, and cost-effective route for ammonia synthesis.
• The MoO3@CFP catalyst's unique structure facilitates efficient nitrogen activation and reduction.
• This study presents a promising sustainable alternative for ammonia production using readily available resources.