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Thangudu S, Wu CH, Hwang KC. Photocatalytic Dinitrogen Reduction to Ammonia over Biomimetic FeMoS x Nanosheets. ACS OMEGA 2024; 9:20629-20635. [PMID: 38737058 PMCID: PMC11080007 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.4c03076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2024] [Revised: 04/07/2024] [Accepted: 04/12/2024] [Indexed: 05/14/2024]
Abstract
Reduction of atmospheric dinitrogen (N2) to ammonia (NH3) using water and sunlight in the absence of sacrificial reducing reagents at room temperature is very challenging and is considered an eco-friendly approach to meet the rapidly increasing demand for nitrogen storage, fertilizers, and a sustainable society. Currently, ammonia production via the energy-intensive Haber-Bosch process causes ∼350 million tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) emission per year. Interestingly, natural N2 fixation by the nitrogenase enzyme occurs under ambient conditions. Unfortunately, N2 fixation on biomimetic catalysts has rarely been studied. To mimic biological nitrogen fixation, herein, we synthesized the novel iron molybdenum sulfide (FeMoSx) micro-/nanosheets via a simple hydrothermal approach for the first time. Further, we successfully demonstrated the photochemical conversion of N2 to NH3 over a biomimetic FeMoSx photocatalyst. The estimated yield is around 99.79 ± 6.0 μmol/h/g photocatalyst with a quantum efficiency of ∼0.028% at 532 nm visible-light wavelength. Besides, we also systematically studied the influence of key factors to further improve NH3 yields. Overall, this study paves a new pathway to fabricate carbon-free, photochemical N2 fixation materials for future applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suresh Thangudu
- Department
of Chemistry, National Tsing
Hua University, Hsinchu 30013, Taiwan R.O.C
| | - Chein Hou Wu
- Department
of Biomedical Engineering and Environmental Science, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu 30013, Taiwan R.O.C
| | - Kuo Chu Hwang
- Department
of Chemistry, National Tsing
Hua University, Hsinchu 30013, Taiwan R.O.C
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2
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Sen S, Bag A, Pal S. Mechanistic Inquisition on the Reduction of C 17Si(NH 2) 2 to NH 3: A DFT Study. Chemphyschem 2024; 25:e202300723. [PMID: 38353668 DOI: 10.1002/cphc.202300723] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2023] [Revised: 02/13/2024] [Indexed: 03/06/2024]
Abstract
Activation of molecular nitrogen by silicon-substituted cyclo[18]carbon and its ability to produce the C17Si-(NH2)2 derivative, as the precursor of NH3, has been recently reported. This specific acquisition has piqued an interest to investigate the possibility of NH3 formation with further addition of H2 molecules in the gaseous reaction media. The current investigations reported in this article show that two moles of molecular H2 generate two molecules of NH3 and a C17Si-H2 byproduct from its precursor. The catalyst gets restored by an in situ reaction between some unreacted C17Si-N2 and the byproduct in the media. This reaction also produces the next C17Si-(NH)2 adduct, which restarts the catalytic cycle for NH3 production again.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sobitri Sen
- Department of Chemical Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Kolkata, 741246, West-Bengal, India
| | - Arijit Bag
- Department of Applied Chemistry, Maulana Abdul Kalam Azad University of Technology, Simhat, Haringhata, Nadia, 741249, West Bengal, India
| | - Sourav Pal
- Department of Chemical Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Kolkata, 741246, West-Bengal, India
- Department of Chemical Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Kolkata, 741246, West-Bengal, India
- Ashoka University, Sonipat, Haryana, 131029, India
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3
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Žibert T, Likozar B, Huš M. Modelling Photocatalytic N 2 Reduction to Ammonia: Where We Stand and Where We Are Going. CHEMSUSCHEM 2024:e202301730. [PMID: 38523408 DOI: 10.1002/cssc.202301730] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2023] [Revised: 03/18/2024] [Accepted: 03/19/2024] [Indexed: 03/26/2024]
Abstract
Artificial ammonia synthesis via the Haber-Bosch process is environmentally problematic due to the high energy consumption and corresponding CO2 ${_2 }$ emissions, produced during the reaction and before hand in hydrogen production upon methane steam reforming. Photocatalytic nitrogen fixation as a greener alternative to the conventional Haber-Bosch process enables us to perform nitrogen reduction reaction (NRR) under mild conditions, harnessing light as the energy source. Herein, we systematically review first-principles calculations used to determine the electronic/optical properties of photocatalysts, N2 adsorption and to expound possible NRR mechanisms. The most commonly studied photocatalysts for nitrogen fixation are usually modified with dopants, defects, co-catalysts and Z-scheme heterojunctions to prevent charge carrier recombination, improve charge separation efficiency and adjust a band gap to for utilizing a broader light spectrum. Most studies at the atomistic level of modeling are grounded upon density functional theory (DFT) calculations, wholly foregoing excitation effects paramount in photocatalysis. Hence, there is a dire need to consider methods beyond DFT to study the excited state properties more accurately. Furthermore, a few studies have been examined, which include higher level kinetics and macroscale simulations. Ultimately, we show there is still ample room for improvement with regard to first principles calculations and their integration in multiscale models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taja Žibert
- National Institute of Chemistry, Department of Catalysis and Chemical Reaction Engineering, Hajdrihova 19, SI-1001, Ljubljana, Slovenia
- University of Nova Gorica, Vipavska 13, 5000, Nova Gorica, Slovenia
| | - Blaž Likozar
- National Institute of Chemistry, Department of Catalysis and Chemical Reaction Engineering, Hajdrihova 19, SI-1001, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Matej Huš
- National Institute of Chemistry, Department of Catalysis and Chemical Reaction Engineering, Hajdrihova 19, SI-1001, Ljubljana, Slovenia
- University of Nova Gorica, Vipavska 13, 5000, Nova Gorica, Slovenia
- Institute for the Protection of Cultural Heritage, Poljanska 40, SI-1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia
- Association for Technical Culture (ZOTKS), Zaloška 65, SI, 1001, Ljubljana, Slovenia
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4
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Yu Y, Wei X, Chen W, Qian G, Chen C, Wang S, Min D. Design of Single-Atom Catalysts for E lectrocatalytic Nitrogen Fixation. CHEMSUSCHEM 2024; 17:e202301105. [PMID: 37985420 DOI: 10.1002/cssc.202301105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2023] [Revised: 11/18/2023] [Accepted: 11/20/2023] [Indexed: 11/22/2023]
Abstract
The Electrochemical nitrogen reduction reaction (ENRR) can be used to solve environmental problems as well as energy shortage. However, ENRR still faces the problems of low NH3 yield and low selectivity. The NH3 yield and selectivity in ENRR are affected by multiple factors such as electrolytic cells, electrolytes, and catalysts, etc. Among these catalysts are at the core of ENRR research. Single-atom catalysts (SACs) with intrinsic activity have become an emerging technology for numerous energy regeneration, including ENRR. In particular, regulating the microenvironment of SACs (hydrogen evolution reaction inhibition, carrier engineering, metal-carrier interaction, etc.) can break through the limitation of intrinsic activity of SACs. Therefore, this Review first introduces the basic principles of NRR and outlines the key factors affecting ENRR. Then a comprehensive summary is given of the progress of SACs (precious metals, non-precious metals, non-metallic) and diatomic catalysts (DACs) in ENRR. The impact of SACs microenvironmental regulation on ENRR is highlighted. Finally, further research directions for SACs in ENRR are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuanyuan Yu
- College of Light Industry and Food Engineering, Guangxsi University, Nanning, 530004, P. R. China
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Clean Pulp & Papermaking and Pollution Control, Nanning, 530004, P. R. China
| | - Xiaoxiao Wei
- College of Light Industry and Food Engineering, Guangxsi University, Nanning, 530004, P. R. China
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Clean Pulp & Papermaking and Pollution Control, Nanning, 530004, P. R. China
| | - Wangqian Chen
- College of Light Industry and Food Engineering, Guangxsi University, Nanning, 530004, P. R. China
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Clean Pulp & Papermaking and Pollution Control, Nanning, 530004, P. R. China
| | - Guangfu Qian
- College of Light Industry and Food Engineering, Guangxsi University, Nanning, 530004, P. R. China
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Clean Pulp & Papermaking and Pollution Control, Nanning, 530004, P. R. China
| | - Changzhou Chen
- College of Light Industry and Food Engineering, Guangxsi University, Nanning, 530004, P. R. China
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Clean Pulp & Papermaking and Pollution Control, Nanning, 530004, P. R. China
| | - Shuangfei Wang
- College of Light Industry and Food Engineering, Guangxsi University, Nanning, 530004, P. R. China
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Clean Pulp & Papermaking and Pollution Control, Nanning, 530004, P. R. China
| | - Douyong Min
- College of Light Industry and Food Engineering, Guangxsi University, Nanning, 530004, P. R. China
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Clean Pulp & Papermaking and Pollution Control, Nanning, 530004, P. R. China
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5
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Li H, Wang J, Ruan Z, Nan P, Ge B, Cheng M, Yang L, Li X, Liu Q, Pan B, Zhang Q, Xiao C, Xie Y. Electron transfer bridge inducing polarization of nitrogen molecules for enhanced photocatalytic nitrogen fixation. MATERIALS HORIZONS 2023; 10:5053-5059. [PMID: 37655791 DOI: 10.1039/d3mh01041d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/02/2023]
Abstract
Ammonia (NH3) plays a crucial role in the production of fertilizers, medicines, fibers, etc., which are closely relevant to the development of human society. However, the inert and nonpolar properties of NN seriously hinder artificial nitrogen fixation under mild conditions. Herein, we introduce a novel strategy to enhance the photocatalytic efficiency of N2 fixation through the directional polarization of N2 by rare earth metal atoms, which act as a local "electron transfer bridge." This bridge facilitates the transfer of delocalized electrons to the distal N atom and redirects the polarization of adsorbed N2 molecules. Taking cerium doped BiOCl (Ce-BiOCl) as an example, our results reveal that the electrons transfer to the distal N atom through the cerium atom, resulting in absorbed nitrogen molecular polarization. Consequently, the polarized nitrogen molecules exhibit an easier trend for NN cleavage and the subsequent hydrogenation process, and exhibit a greatly enhanced photocatalytic ammonia production rate of 46.7 μmol g-1 h-1 in cerium doped BiOCl, nearly 4 times higher than that of pure BiOCl. The original concept of directional polarization of N2 presented in this work not only deepens our understanding of the N2 molecular activation mechanism but also broadens our horizons for designing highly efficient catalysts for N2 fixation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huiyi Li
- Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials (iChEM), University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230026, China
| | - Jiongrong Wang
- Key laboratory of Strongy-Coupled Quantum Matter Physics, Department of Physics University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230026, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhoushilin Ruan
- Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials (iChEM), University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230026, China
| | - Pengfei Nan
- Key Laboratory of Structure and Functional Regulation of Hybrid Materials of Ministry of Education, Institutes of Physical Science and Information Technology, Anhui University, Hefei 230601, China
| | - Binghui Ge
- Key Laboratory of Structure and Functional Regulation of Hybrid Materials of Ministry of Education, Institutes of Physical Science and Information Technology, Anhui University, Hefei 230601, China
| | - Ming Cheng
- Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials (iChEM), University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230026, China
| | - Lan Yang
- Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials (iChEM), University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230026, China
| | - Xiaohong Li
- Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials (iChEM), University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230026, China
| | - Qilong Liu
- Institute of Energy, Hefei Comprehensive National Science Center, Hefei, Anhui, 230031, China
| | - Bicai Pan
- Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials (iChEM), University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230026, China
| | - Qun Zhang
- Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials (iChEM), University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230026, China
| | - Chong Xiao
- Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials (iChEM), University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230026, China
- Institute of Energy, Hefei Comprehensive National Science Center, Hefei, Anhui, 230031, China
| | - Yi Xie
- Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials (iChEM), University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230026, China
- Institute of Energy, Hefei Comprehensive National Science Center, Hefei, Anhui, 230031, China
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6
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Zuo C, Su Q, Yu L. Research Progress in Composite Materials for Photocatalytic Nitrogen Fixation. Molecules 2023; 28:7277. [PMID: 37959696 PMCID: PMC10650292 DOI: 10.3390/molecules28217277] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2023] [Revised: 10/17/2023] [Accepted: 10/24/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Ammonia is an essential component of modern chemical products and the building unit of natural life molecules. The Haber-Bosch (H-B) process is mainly used in the ammonia synthesis process in the industry. In this process, nitrogen and hydrogen react to produce ammonia with metal catalysts under high temperatures and pressure. However, the H-B process consumes a lot of energy and simultaneously emits greenhouse gases. In the "double carbon" effect, to promote the combination of photocatalytic technology and artificial nitrogen fixation, the development of green synthetic reactions has been widely discussed. Using an inexhaustible supply of sunlight as a power source, researchers have used photocatalysts to reduce nitrogen to ammonia, which is energy-dense and easy to store and transport. This process completes the conversion from light energy to chemical energy. At the same time, it achieves zero carbon emissions, reducing energy consumption and environmental pollution in industrial ammonia synthesis from the source. The application of photocatalytic technology in the nitrogen cycle has become one of the research hotspots in the new energy field. This article provides a classification of and an introduction to nitrogen-fixing photocatalysts reported in recent years and prospects the future development trends in this field.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Lei Yu
- College of Chemistry & Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Weifang University, Weifang 261061, China; (C.Z.); (Q.S.)
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7
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Li X, Deng P, Xu M, Peng Z, Zhou Y, Jia G, Ye W, Gao P, Wang W. Multi-layer core-shell metal oxide/nitride/carbon and its high-rate electroreduction of nitrate to ammonia. NANOSCALE 2023; 15:14439-14447. [PMID: 37642315 DOI: 10.1039/d3nr02972g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/31/2023]
Abstract
The electroreduction of nitrate to ammonia is both an alternative strategy to industrial Haber-Bosch ammonia synthesis and a prospective idea for changing waste (nitrate pollution of groundwater around the world) into valuable chemicals, but still hindered by its in-process strongly competitive hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), low ammonia conversion efficiency, and the absence of stability and sustainability. Considering the unique electronic structure of anti-perovskite structured Fe4N, a tandem disproportionation reaction and nitridation-carbonation route for building a multi-layer core-shell oxide/nitride/C catalyst, such as MoO2/Fe4N/C, is designed and executed, in which abundant Fe-N active sites and rich phase interfaces are in situ formed for both suppressing HER and fast transport of electrons and reaction intermediates. As a result, the sample's NO3RR conversion displays a very high NH3 yield rate of up to 11.10 molNH3 gcat.-1 h-1 (1.67 mmol cm-2 h-1) with a superior 99.3% faradaic efficiency and the highest half-cell energy efficiency of 30%, surpassing that of most previous reports. In addition, it is proved that the NO3RR assisted by the MoO2/Fe4N/C electrocatalyst can be carried out in 0.50-1.00 M KNO3 electrolyte at a pH value of 6-14 for a long time. These results guide the rational design of highly active, selective, and durable electrocatalysts based on anti-perovskite Fe4N for the NO3RR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyu Li
- College of Material, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Key Laboratory of Organosilicon Chemistry and Material Technology, Ministry of Education, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 311121, China.
| | - Ping Deng
- College of Material, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Key Laboratory of Organosilicon Chemistry and Material Technology, Ministry of Education, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 311121, China.
| | - Mengqiu Xu
- College of Material, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Key Laboratory of Organosilicon Chemistry and Material Technology, Ministry of Education, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 311121, China.
| | - Zhenbo Peng
- Zhejiang Collaborative Innovation Center for High Value Utilization of Byproducts from Ethylene Project, Ningbo Polytechnic, Ningbo 315800, China
| | - Yuhu Zhou
- College of Material, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Key Laboratory of Organosilicon Chemistry and Material Technology, Ministry of Education, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 311121, China.
| | - Gan Jia
- College of Material, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Key Laboratory of Organosilicon Chemistry and Material Technology, Ministry of Education, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 311121, China.
| | - Wei Ye
- College of Material, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Key Laboratory of Organosilicon Chemistry and Material Technology, Ministry of Education, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 311121, China.
| | - Peng Gao
- College of Material, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Key Laboratory of Organosilicon Chemistry and Material Technology, Ministry of Education, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 311121, China.
| | - Wei Wang
- College of Material, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Key Laboratory of Organosilicon Chemistry and Material Technology, Ministry of Education, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 311121, China.
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8
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Fang JY, Fan JL, Liu SB, Sun SP, Lou YY. Copper-Based Electrocatalysts for Nitrate Reduction to Ammonia. MATERIALS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 16:ma16114000. [PMID: 37297134 DOI: 10.3390/ma16114000] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2023] [Revised: 05/06/2023] [Accepted: 05/12/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Ammonia (NH3) is a highly important industrial chemical used as fuel and fertilizer. The industrial synthesis of NH3 relies heavily on the Haber-Bosch route, which accounts for roughly 1.2% of global annual CO2 emissions. As an alternative route, the electrosynthesis of NH3 from nitrate anion (NO3-) reduction (NO3-RR) has drawn increasing attention, since NO3-RR from wastewater to produce NH3 can not only recycle waste into treasure but also alleviate the adverse effects of excessive NO3- contamination in the environment. This review presents contemporary views on the state of the art in electrocatalytic NO3- reduction over Cu-based nanostructured materials, discusses the merits of electrocatalytic performance, and summarizes current advances in the exploration of this technology using different strategies for nanostructured-material modification. The electrocatalytic mechanism of nitrate reduction is also reviewed here, especially with regard to copper-based catalysts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jia-Yi Fang
- State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, Department of Chemistry, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China
| | - Jin-Long Fan
- School of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Sheng-Bo Liu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Environmental Science and Engineering, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Suzhou University of Science and Technology, Suzhou 215009, China
| | - Sheng-Peng Sun
- School of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Yao-Yin Lou
- School of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
- State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, Department of Chemistry, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China
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Zi Y, Hu Y, Pu J, Wang M, Huang W. Recent Progress in Interface Engineering of Nanostructures for Photoelectrochemical Energy Harvesting Applications. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2023; 19:e2208274. [PMID: 36776020 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202208274] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2023] [Revised: 01/19/2023] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
With rapid and continuous consumption of nonrenewable energy, solar energy can be utilized to meet the energy requirement and mitigate environmental issues in the future. To attain a sustainable society with an energy mix predominately dependent on solar energy, photoelectrochemical (PEC) device, in which semiconductor nanostructure-based photocatalysts play important roles, is considered to be one of the most promising candidates to realize the sufficient utilization of solar energy in a low-cost, green, and environmentally friendly manner. Interface engineering of semiconductor nanostructures has been qualified in the efficient improvement of PEC performances including three basic steps, i.e., light absorption, charge transfer/separation, and surface catalytic reaction. In this review, recently developed interface engineering of semiconductor nanostructures for direct and high-efficiency conversion of sunlight into available forms (e.g., chemical fuels and electric power) are summarized in terms of their atomic constitution and morphology, electronic structure and promising potential for PEC applications. Extensive efforts toward the development of high-performance PEC applications (e.g., PEC water splitting, PEC photodetection, PEC catalysis, PEC degradation and PEC biosensors) are also presented and appraised. Last but not least, a brief summary and personal insights on the challenges and future directions in the community of next-generation PEC devices are also provided.
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Affiliation(s)
- You Zi
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, 226019, P. R. China
| | - Yi Hu
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, 226019, P. R. China
| | - Junmei Pu
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, 226019, P. R. China
| | - Mengke Wang
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, 226019, P. R. China
| | - Weichun Huang
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, 226019, P. R. China
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10
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Schüren AO, Ridgway BM, Di Salvo F, Carella LM, Gramm VK, Metzger E, Doctorovich F, Rentschler E, Schünemann V, Ruschewitz U, Klein A. Structural insight into halide-coordinated [Fe 4S 4X nY 4-n] 2- clusters (X, Y = Cl, Br, I) by XRD and Mössbauer spectroscopy. Dalton Trans 2023; 52:1277-1290. [PMID: 36621931 DOI: 10.1039/d2dt03203a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Iron sulphur halide clusters [Fe4S4Br4]2- and [Fe4S4X2Y2]2- (X, Y = Cl, Br, I) were obtained in excellent yields (77 to 78%) and purity from [Fe(CO)5], elemental sulphur, I2 and benzyltrimethylammonium (BTMA+) iodide, bromide and chloride. Single crystals of (BTMA)2[Fe4S4Br4] (1), (BTMA)2[Fe4S4Br2Cl2] (2), (BTMA)2[Fe4S4Cl2I2] (3), and (BTMA)2[Fe4S4Br2I2] (4) were isostructural to the previously reported (BTMA)2[Fe4S4I4] (5) (monoclinic, Cc). Instead of the chloride cubane cluster [Fe4S4Cl4]2-, we found the prismane-shaped cluster (BTMA)3[Fe6S6Cl6] (6) (P1̄). 57Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy indicates complete delocalisation with Fe2.5+ oxidation states for all iron atoms. Magnetic measurements showed small χMT values at 298 K ranging from 1.12 to 1.54 cm3 K mol-1, indicating the dominant antiferromagnetic exchange interactions. With decreasing temperature, the χMT values decreased to reach a plateau at around 100 K. From about 20 K, the values drop significantly. Fitting the data in the Heisenberg-Dirac-van Vleck (HDvV) as well as the Heisenberg Double Exchange (HDE) formalism confirmed the delocalisation and antiferromagnetic coupling assumed from Mössbauer spectroscopy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreas O Schüren
- Universität zu Köln, Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftliche Fakultät, Department für Chemie, Institut für Anorganische Chemie, Greinstraße 6, D-50939 Köln, Germany. .,INQUIMAE-CONICET-Universidad de Buenos Aires, Intendente Güiraldes 2160, Pabellón 2, Piso 3, C1428EGA, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Benjamin M Ridgway
- INQUIMAE-CONICET-Universidad de Buenos Aires, Intendente Güiraldes 2160, Pabellón 2, Piso 3, C1428EGA, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Florencia Di Salvo
- INQUIMAE-CONICET-Universidad de Buenos Aires, Intendente Güiraldes 2160, Pabellón 2, Piso 3, C1428EGA, Buenos Aires, Argentina.,Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Departamento de Química Inorgánica, Analítica y Química Física, Intendente Güiraldes 2160, Pabellón 2, Piso 3, C1428EGA, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Luca M Carella
- Johannes Gutenberg Universität Mainz, Department Chemie, Duesbergweg 10-14, 55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - Verena K Gramm
- Universität zu Köln, Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftliche Fakultät, Department für Chemie, Institut für Anorganische Chemie, Greinstraße 6, D-50939 Köln, Germany.
| | - Elisa Metzger
- TU Kaiserlautern Department of Physics, 67663 Kaiserlautern, Germany
| | - Fabio Doctorovich
- INQUIMAE-CONICET-Universidad de Buenos Aires, Intendente Güiraldes 2160, Pabellón 2, Piso 3, C1428EGA, Buenos Aires, Argentina.,Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Departamento de Química Inorgánica, Analítica y Química Física, Intendente Güiraldes 2160, Pabellón 2, Piso 3, C1428EGA, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Eva Rentschler
- Johannes Gutenberg Universität Mainz, Department Chemie, Duesbergweg 10-14, 55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - Volker Schünemann
- TU Kaiserlautern Department of Physics, 67663 Kaiserlautern, Germany
| | - Uwe Ruschewitz
- Universität zu Köln, Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftliche Fakultät, Department für Chemie, Institut für Anorganische Chemie, Greinstraße 6, D-50939 Köln, Germany.
| | - Axel Klein
- Universität zu Köln, Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftliche Fakultät, Department für Chemie, Institut für Anorganische Chemie, Greinstraße 6, D-50939 Köln, Germany.
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11
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Ojha N, Thakkar K, Bajpai A, Joshi K, Kumar S. Photoinduced CO 2 and N 2 reductions on plasmonically enabled gallium oxide. J Colloid Interface Sci 2023; 629:654-666. [PMID: 36183645 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2022.09.097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2022] [Revised: 08/16/2022] [Accepted: 09/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Ag-containing ZnO/ β-Ga2O3 semiconductor, which exhibit reduced bandgap, increased light absorption, and hydrophilicity, have been found to be useful for photocatalytic CO2 reduction and N2 fixation by water. The charge-separation is facilitated by the new interfaces and inherent vacancies. The Ag@GaZn demonstrated the highest photocurrent response, about 20- and 2.27-folds that of the Ga and GaZn samples, respectively. CO, CH4, and H2 formed as products for photo-reduction of CO2. Ag@GaZn catalyst exhibited the highest AQY of 0.121 % at 400 nm (31.2 W/m2). Also, Ag@GaZn generated 740 μmolg-1 of NH4+ ions, which was about 18-folds higher than Ga sample. In situ DRIFTS for isotopic-labelled 13CO2 and 15N2 reaffirmed the photo-activity of as-synthesized catalysts. Density functional theory provided insight into the relative affinity of different planes of heterostructures towards H2O, CO2 and N2 molecules. The structure-photoactivity rationale behind the intriguing Ag@GaZn sample offers a fundamental insight into the role of plasmonic Ag and design principle of heterostructure with improved photoactivity and stability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Niwesh Ojha
- Gas-Solid Interaction Laboratory, Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Patna, Bihta, Patna 801 106, Bihar, India
| | - Kavita Thakkar
- Physical and Materials Chemistry Division, CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory, Dr Homi Bhabha Road, Pashan, Pune 411008, India; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Sector 19, Kamla Nehru Nagar, Ghaziabad 201002, India
| | - Abhinav Bajpai
- Gas-Solid Interaction Laboratory, Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Patna, Bihta, Patna 801 106, Bihar, India
| | - Kavita Joshi
- Physical and Materials Chemistry Division, CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory, Dr Homi Bhabha Road, Pashan, Pune 411008, India; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Sector 19, Kamla Nehru Nagar, Ghaziabad 201002, India
| | - Sushant Kumar
- Gas-Solid Interaction Laboratory, Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Patna, Bihta, Patna 801 106, Bihar, India.
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12
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Excluding false positives: A perspective toward credible ammonia quantification in nitrogen reduction reaction. CHINESE JOURNAL OF CATALYSIS 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/s1872-2067(22)64148-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
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13
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Yang L, Liu J. Amorphous chalcogels with local crystallinity. Nat Commun 2022; 13:7875. [PMID: 36564371 PMCID: PMC9789093 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-35387-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2022] [Accepted: 11/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Lijun Yang
- grid.458500.c0000 0004 1806 7609Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shandong Energy Institute, Qingdao, 266101 China
| | - Jian Liu
- grid.458500.c0000 0004 1806 7609Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shandong Energy Institute, Qingdao, 266101 China
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14
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Hui X, Wang L, Yao Z, Hao L, Sun Z. Recent progress of photocatalysts based on tungsten and related metals for nitrogen reduction to ammonia. Front Chem 2022; 10:978078. [PMID: 36072702 PMCID: PMC9441816 DOI: 10.3389/fchem.2022.978078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2022] [Accepted: 07/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Photocatalytic nitrogen reduction reaction (NRR) to ammonia holds a great promise for substituting the traditional energy-intensive Haber–Bosch process, which entails sunlight as an inexhaustible resource and water as a hydrogen source under mild conditions. Remarkable progress has been achieved regarding the activation and solar conversion of N2 to NH3 with the rapid development of emerging photocatalysts, but it still suffers from low efficiency. A comprehensive review on photocatalysts covering tungsten and related metals as well as their broad ranges of alloys and compounds is lacking. This article aims to summarize recent advances in this regard, focusing on the strategies to enhance the photocatalytic performance of tungsten and related metal semiconductors for the NRR. The fundamentals of solar-to-NH3 photocatalysis, reaction pathways, and NH3 quantification methods are presented, and the concomitant challenges are also revealed. Finally, we cast insights into the future development of sustainable NH3 production, and highlight some potential directions for further research in this vibrant field.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Zhenyu Sun
- *Correspondence: Leiduan Hao, ; Zhenyu Sun,
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15
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Dong G, Huang X, Bi Y. Anchoring Black Phosphorus Quantum Dots on Fe-Doped W 18 O 49 Nanowires for Efficient Photocatalytic Nitrogen Fixation. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2022; 61:e202204271. [PMID: 35545533 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202204271] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Herein, we demonstrate that the surface anchoring of black phosphorus quantum dots (BPQDs) and bulk iron-doping in W18 O49 nanowires significantly promotes the photocatalytic activity toward N2 fixation into NH3 . More specifically, a NH3 production rate of up to 187.6 μmol g-1 h-1 could be achieved, nearly one order of magnitude higher than that of pristine W18 O49 (18.9 μmol g-1 h-1 ). Comprehensive experiments and density-functional theory calculations reveal that Fe-doping could enhance the reducing ability of photo-generated electrons by decreasing the work function and elevating the defect band (d-band) centers. Additionally, the surface BPQDs anchoring could facilitate the N2 adsorption/activation owing to the increased adsorption energy and advantaged W-P dimer bonding-mode. Therefore, synergizing the surface BPQD anchoring and bulk Fe-doping remarkably enhanced the photocatalytic activity of W18 O49 nanowires for NH3 production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guojun Dong
- State Key Laboratory for Oxo Synthesis & Selective Oxidation, National Engineering Research Center for Fine Petrochemical Intermediates, Lanzhou Institute of Chemical Physics, CAS, Lanzhou, 730000, P. R. China
| | - Xiaojuan Huang
- State Key Laboratory for Oxo Synthesis & Selective Oxidation, National Engineering Research Center for Fine Petrochemical Intermediates, Lanzhou Institute of Chemical Physics, CAS, Lanzhou, 730000, P. R. China
| | - Yingpu Bi
- State Key Laboratory for Oxo Synthesis & Selective Oxidation, National Engineering Research Center for Fine Petrochemical Intermediates, Lanzhou Institute of Chemical Physics, CAS, Lanzhou, 730000, P. R. China.,Dalian National Laboratory for Clean Energy, CAS, Dalian, 116023, China
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16
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Wu P, Wang T, Xue Q, Wang M, Zhong R, Hu J, Chen Z, Wang D, Xue G. Regulating Electronic Structure in Bi 2 O 3 Architectures by Ti Mediation: A Strategy for Dual Active Sites Synergistically Promoting Photocatalytic Nitrogen Hydrogenation. CHEMSUSCHEM 2022; 15:e202200297. [PMID: 35352877 DOI: 10.1002/cssc.202200297] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2022] [Revised: 03/20/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Under mild conditions, nitrogen undergoes the associative pathways to be reduced with solar energy as the driving force for fixation, avoiding the high energy consumption when undergoing dissociation. Nevertheless, this process is hindered by the high hydrogenation energy barrier. Herein, Ti was introduced as hard acid into the δ-Bi2 O3 (Ti-Bi2 O3 ) lattice to tune its local electronic structure and optimize its photo-electrochemistry performance (reduced bandgap, increased conduction band maximum, and extended carrier lifetime). Heterokaryotic Ti-Bi dual-active sites in Ti-Bi2 O3 created a novel adsorption geometry of O-N2 interaction proved by density functional theory calculation and N2 temperature-programmed desorption. The synergistic effect of dual-active sites reduced the energy barrier of hydrogenation from 2.65 (Bi2 O3 ) to 2.13 eV (Ti-Bi2 O3 ), thanks to the highly overlapping orbitals with N2 . Results showed that 10 % Ti-doped Bi2 O3 exhibited an excellent ammonia production rate of 508.6 μmol gcat -1 h-1 in water and without sacrificial agent, which is 4.4 times higher than that of Bi2 O3 . In this work, bridging oxygen activation and synergistic hydrogenation for nitrogen with Ti-Bi dual active sites may unveil a corner of the hidden nitrogen reduction reaction mechanism and serves as a distinctive strategy for the design of nitrogen fixation photocatalysts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Panfeng Wu
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xi'an Shiyou University, 18 Dianzi Road, Xi'an, 710065, P. R. China
| | - Tianyu Wang
- Key Laboratory of Synthetic and Natural Functional Molecule Chemistry, College of Chemistry & Materials Science, Northwest University, 1 Xuefu Ave., Xi'an, 710127, P. R. China
| | - Qi Xue
- Xi'an Modern Chemistry Research Institute, Xi'an, 710065, P. R. China
| | - Mengkai Wang
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xi'an Shiyou University, 18 Dianzi Road, Xi'an, 710065, P. R. China
| | - Ruihua Zhong
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xi'an Shiyou University, 18 Dianzi Road, Xi'an, 710065, P. R. China
| | - Jun Hu
- School of Chemical Engineering, Northwest University, 229 Taibai North Road, Xi'an, 710069, P. R. China
| | - Zhong Chen
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, 50 Nanyang Ave., Singapore City, 639798, Republic of Singapore
| | - Danjun Wang
- Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Chemical Reaction Engineering, College of Chemistry & Chemical Engineering, Yan'an University, 580 Shengdi Ave., Yan'an, 716000, P. R. China
| | - Ganglin Xue
- Key Laboratory of Synthetic and Natural Functional Molecule Chemistry, College of Chemistry & Materials Science, Northwest University, 1 Xuefu Ave., Xi'an, 710127, P. R. China
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17
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Xu M, Xie Q, Duan D, Zhang Y, Zhou Y, Zhou H, Li X, Wang Y, Gao P, Ye W. Atomically Dispersed Cu Sites on Dual-Mesoporous N-Doped Carbon for Efficient Ammonia Electrosynthesis from Nitrate. CHEMSUSCHEM 2022; 15:e202200231. [PMID: 35384362 DOI: 10.1002/cssc.202200231] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2022] [Revised: 02/27/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The industrial Haber-Bosch process for ammonia synthesis is extremely important in modern society. However, it is energy intensive and leads to severe pollution, which has motivated eco-friendly NH3 synthesis research. Electroreduction of contaminant nitrate ions back to NH3 is an effective complement but is still limited by low NH3 yields and nitrate-to-NH3 selectivities. In this study, the electrochemical nitrate reduction reaction (NTRR) is carried out over a single-atom Cu catalyst. Atomically dispersed Cu sites anchored on dual-mesoporous N-doped carbon framework display excellent NTRR performance with NH3 production rate of 13.8 mol NH 3 gcat -1 h-1 and NO3 - -to-NH3 faradaic efficiency (FE) of 95.5 % at -1.0 V. Cu-N-C catalyst can sustain continuous 120 h NTRR test in the simulated NH3 synthesis scenarios with large current density (about 200 mA cm-2 ) and amplified volume of NO3 - solution (9 times). Theoretical calculations reveal that atomically dispersed Cu1 -N4 sites reduce the energy barrier of potential-determining step in NTRR and promote the decomposition of primary intermediate in NO3 - -to-N2 process. These findings provide a guideline for the rational design of highly active, selective and durable electrocatalysts for the NTRR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengqiu Xu
- College of Material, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Key Laboratory of Organosilicon Chemistry and Material Technology Ministry of Education, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 311121, P. R. China
| | - Qifan Xie
- College of Materials Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310014, P. R. China
| | - Delong Duan
- School of Chemistry and Materials Science, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, 230026, P. R. China
| | - Ye Zhang
- College of Material, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Key Laboratory of Organosilicon Chemistry and Material Technology Ministry of Education, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 311121, P. R. China
| | - Yuhu Zhou
- College of Material, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Key Laboratory of Organosilicon Chemistry and Material Technology Ministry of Education, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 311121, P. R. China
| | - Haiqiao Zhou
- College of Material, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Key Laboratory of Organosilicon Chemistry and Material Technology Ministry of Education, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 311121, P. R. China
| | - Xiaoyu Li
- College of Material, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Key Laboratory of Organosilicon Chemistry and Material Technology Ministry of Education, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 311121, P. R. China
| | - Yao Wang
- College of Materials Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310014, P. R. China
| | - Peng Gao
- College of Material, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Key Laboratory of Organosilicon Chemistry and Material Technology Ministry of Education, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 311121, P. R. China
| | - Wei Ye
- College of Material, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Key Laboratory of Organosilicon Chemistry and Material Technology Ministry of Education, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 311121, P. R. China
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18
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Dong G, Huang X, Bi Y. Anchoring Black Phosphorus Quantum Dots on Fe‐Doped W
18
O
49
Nanowires for Efficient Photocatalytic Nitrogen Fixation. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2022. [DOI: 10.1002/ange.202204271] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Guojun Dong
- State Key Laboratory for Oxo Synthesis & Selective Oxidation National Engineering Research Center for Fine Petrochemical Intermediates Lanzhou Institute of Chemical Physics CAS Lanzhou 730000 P. R. China
| | - Xiaojuan Huang
- State Key Laboratory for Oxo Synthesis & Selective Oxidation National Engineering Research Center for Fine Petrochemical Intermediates Lanzhou Institute of Chemical Physics CAS Lanzhou 730000 P. R. China
| | - Yingpu Bi
- State Key Laboratory for Oxo Synthesis & Selective Oxidation National Engineering Research Center for Fine Petrochemical Intermediates Lanzhou Institute of Chemical Physics CAS Lanzhou 730000 P. R. China
- Dalian National Laboratory for Clean Energy CAS Dalian 116023 China
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19
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Sans J, Arnau M, Turon P, Alemán C. Permanently polarized hydroxyapatite, an outstanding catalytic material for carbon and nitrogen fixation. MATERIALS HORIZONS 2022; 9:1566-1576. [PMID: 35357375 DOI: 10.1039/d1mh02057a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Hydroxyapatite (HAp) is a well-known ceramic material widely used in the biomedical field. This review summarizes the very recent developments on permanently polarized HAp (pp-HAp), a HAp variety with tuned electrical properties that confer remarkable catalytic activity. pp-HAp is obtained by applying a thermal stimulation polarization process (TSP), which consists on a DC electric voltage of 500 V at 1000 °C, to previously sintered HAp. The TSP not only increases the crystallinity, reducing the defects in the crystal lattice, but also creates charges that accumulate at the crystalline boundaries and at the surface of microscopic grains, boosting the electrical conductivity. Finally, the successful utilization of pp-HAp in the catalytic fixation of carbon and nitrogen from CO2 and N2 gases, respectively, is reported and the formation of different products of chemical interest (e.g. amino acids, ethanol and ammonium) as a function of the reaction conditions (i.e. feeding gases and presence/absence of UV illumination) and catalyst plasticity is discussed. pp-HAp exhibits important advantages with respect to other consolidated catalysts, which drastically increases the final energetic net balance of the reactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jordi Sans
- Departament d'Enginyeria Química and Barcelona Research Center in Multiscale Science and Engineering, EEBE, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, C/Eduard Maristany 10-14, 08019, Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Marc Arnau
- Departament d'Enginyeria Química and Barcelona Research Center in Multiscale Science and Engineering, EEBE, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, C/Eduard Maristany 10-14, 08019, Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Pau Turon
- B. Braun Surgical, S.A.U. Carretera de Terrassa 121, 08191, Rubí (Barcelona), Spain.
| | - Carlos Alemán
- Departament d'Enginyeria Química and Barcelona Research Center in Multiscale Science and Engineering, EEBE, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, C/Eduard Maristany 10-14, 08019, Barcelona, Spain.
- Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Baldiri Reixac 10-12, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
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20
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Xia R, Overa S, Jiao F. Emerging Electrochemical Processes to Decarbonize the Chemical Industry. JACS AU 2022; 2:1054-1070. [PMID: 35647596 PMCID: PMC9131369 DOI: 10.1021/jacsau.2c00138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2022] [Revised: 04/19/2022] [Accepted: 04/21/2022] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Electrification is a potential approach to decarbonizing the chemical industry. Electrochemical processes, when they are powered by renewable electricity, have lower carbon footprints in comparison to conventional thermochemical routes. In this Perspective, we discuss the potential electrochemical routes for chemical production and provide our views on how electrochemical processes can be matured in academic research laboratories for future industrial applications. We first analyze the CO2 emission in the manufacturing industry and conduct a survey of state of the art electrosynthesis methods in the three most emission-intensive areas: petrochemical production, nitrogen compound production, and metal smelting. Then, we identify the technical bottlenecks in electrifying chemical productions from both chemistry and engineering perspectives and propose potential strategies to tackle these issues. Finally, we provide our views on how electrochemical manufacturing can reduce carbon emissions in the chemical industry with the hope to inspire more research efforts in electrifying chemical manufacturing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rong Xia
- Center
for Catalytic Science and Technology, Department of Chemical and Biomolecular
Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware 19716, United States
| | - Sean Overa
- Center
for Catalytic Science and Technology, Department of Chemical and Biomolecular
Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware 19716, United States
| | - Feng Jiao
- Center
for Catalytic Science and Technology, Department of Chemical and Biomolecular
Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware 19716, United States
- Email for F.J.:
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21
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Pei W, Wang P, Zhou S, Zhao J. Inverse Design of Nanoclusters for Light-Controlled CO 2-HCOOH Interconversion. J Phys Chem Lett 2022; 13:2523-2532. [PMID: 35285226 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpclett.2c00472] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
With global push of hydrogen economy, efficient scenarios for hydrogen storage, transportation, and generation are indispensable. Here we devise a strategy for controllable hydrogen fuel storage and retrieval via light-switched CO2-to-HCOOH interconversion. To realize it, palladium sulfide nanocluster catalysts with multiple specific functionalities are directly searched by our home-developed inverse design approach based on genetic algorithm (IDOGA) and ab initio calculations. Over 500 low-energy PdxSy (x + y ≤ 30) clusters are sieved through a multiobjective function combining stability, activity, optical absorption, and reduction capability of photocarriers. The structure-property relationships and key factors governing the trade-off among these stringent criteria are disclosed. Finally, 14 candidate PdxSy clusters with proper sulfidation degree and high stability in an aqueous environment have been screened. Our IDOGA program provides a general approach for inverse search of nanoclusters with any designated elemental compositions and functionalities for any device applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Pei
- Key Laboratory of Materials Modification by Laser, Ion and Electron Beams, (Dalian University of Technology), Ministry of Education, Dalian 116024, China
| | - Pengju Wang
- Key Laboratory of Materials Modification by Laser, Ion and Electron Beams, (Dalian University of Technology), Ministry of Education, Dalian 116024, China
| | - Si Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Materials Modification by Laser, Ion and Electron Beams, (Dalian University of Technology), Ministry of Education, Dalian 116024, China
| | - Jijun Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Materials Modification by Laser, Ion and Electron Beams, (Dalian University of Technology), Ministry of Education, Dalian 116024, China
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22
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Guo B, Cheng X, Tang Y, Guo W, Deng S, Wu L, Fu X. Dehydrated UiO-66(SH) 2 : The Zr-O Cluster and Its Photocatalytic Role Mimicking the Biological Nitrogen Fixation. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2022; 61:e202117244. [PMID: 35083838 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202117244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
This work reports the dehydrated Zr-based MOF UiO-66(SH)2 as a visible-light-driven photocatalyst to mimic the biological N2 fixation process. The 15 N2 and other control experiments demonstrated that the new photocatalyst is highly efficient in converting N2 to ammonia. In-situ TGA, XPS, and EXAFS as well as first-principles simulations were used to demonstrate the role of the thermal treatment and the changes of the local structures around Zr due to the dehydration. It was shown that the dehydration opened a gate for the entry of N2 molecules into the [Zr6 O6 ] cluster where the strong N≡N bond was broken stepwise by μ-N-Zr type interactions driven by the photoelectrons aided by the protonation. This mechanism was discussed in comparison with the Lowe-Thorneley mechanism proposed for the MoFe nitrogenase, and with emphasis on the [Zr6 O6 ] cluster effect and the leading role of photoelectrons over the protonation. The results shed new light on understanding the catalytic mechanism of biological N2 fixation and open a new way to fix N2 under mild conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Binbin Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Photocatalysis on Energy and Environment, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350116, China.,State Key Laboratory of Structural Chemistry, Fujian Institute of Research on the Structure of Matter, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Fuzhou, Fujian 350002, P.R. China
| | - Xiyue Cheng
- State Key Laboratory of Structural Chemistry, Fujian Institute of Research on the Structure of Matter, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Fuzhou, Fujian 350002, P.R. China
| | - Yu Tang
- State Key Laboratory of Photocatalysis on Energy and Environment, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350116, China
| | - Wei Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Photocatalysis on Energy and Environment, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350116, China
| | - Shuiquan Deng
- State Key Laboratory of Structural Chemistry, Fujian Institute of Research on the Structure of Matter, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Fuzhou, Fujian 350002, P.R. China
| | - Ling Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Photocatalysis on Energy and Environment, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350116, China.,State Key Laboratory of Structural Chemistry, Fujian Institute of Research on the Structure of Matter, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Fuzhou, Fujian 350002, P.R. China
| | - Xianzhi Fu
- State Key Laboratory of Photocatalysis on Energy and Environment, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350116, China
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23
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Guo B, Cheng X, Tang Y, Guo W, Deng S, Wu L, Fu X. Dehydrated UiO‐66(SH)
2
: The Zr−O Cluster and Its Photocatalytic Role Mimicking the Biological Nitrogen Fixation. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2022. [DOI: 10.1002/ange.202117244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Binbin Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Photocatalysis on Energy and Environment Fuzhou University Fuzhou Fujian 350116 China
- State Key Laboratory of Structural Chemistry Fujian Institute of Research on the Structure of Matter Chinese Academy of Sciences Fuzhou Fujian 350002 P.R. China
| | - Xiyue Cheng
- State Key Laboratory of Structural Chemistry Fujian Institute of Research on the Structure of Matter Chinese Academy of Sciences Fuzhou Fujian 350002 P.R. China
| | - Yu Tang
- State Key Laboratory of Photocatalysis on Energy and Environment Fuzhou University Fuzhou Fujian 350116 China
| | - Wei Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Photocatalysis on Energy and Environment Fuzhou University Fuzhou Fujian 350116 China
| | - Shuiquan Deng
- State Key Laboratory of Structural Chemistry Fujian Institute of Research on the Structure of Matter Chinese Academy of Sciences Fuzhou Fujian 350002 P.R. China
| | - Ling Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Photocatalysis on Energy and Environment Fuzhou University Fuzhou Fujian 350116 China
- State Key Laboratory of Structural Chemistry Fujian Institute of Research on the Structure of Matter Chinese Academy of Sciences Fuzhou Fujian 350002 P.R. China
| | - Xianzhi Fu
- State Key Laboratory of Photocatalysis on Energy and Environment Fuzhou University Fuzhou Fujian 350116 China
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24
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Qi P, Gao X, Wang J, Liu H, He D, Zhang Q. A minireview on catalysts for photocatalytic N 2 fixation to synthesize ammonia. RSC Adv 2022; 12:1244-1257. [PMID: 35425192 PMCID: PMC8979037 DOI: 10.1039/d1ra08002d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2021] [Accepted: 12/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Ammonia (NH3) is an important feedstock in chemical industry. Nowadays NH3 is mainly produced via the industrialized Haber-Bosch process, which requires substantial energy input, since it operates at high temperatures (400-650 °C) and high pressures (20-40 Mpa). From the energy conservation point of view, it is of great significance to explore an alternative avenue to synthesize NH3, which is in line with the concept of sustainable development. Very recently, photocatalytic N2 fixation (PNF) has been discovered as a safe and green approach to synthesize NH3, as it utilizes the inexhaustible solar energy and the abundant N2 in nature to synthesize NH3 under mild conditions. A highly efficient catalyst is the core of PNF. Up to now, extensive studies have been conducted to design efficient catalysts for PNF. Summarizing the catalysts reported for PNF and unraveling their reaction mechanisms could provide guidance for the design of better catalysts. In this review, we will illustrate the development of catalysts for PNF, including semiconductors, plasmonic metal-based catalysts, iron-based catalysts, ruthenium-based catalysts and several other catalysts, point out the remaining challenges and outline the future opportunities, with the aim to contribute to the development of PNF.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ping Qi
- School of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Liaoning University of Technology Jinzhou 121001 P. R. China
| | - Xiaoxu Gao
- School of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Liaoning University of Technology Jinzhou 121001 P. R. China
| | - Jian Wang
- School of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Liaoning University of Technology Jinzhou 121001 P. R. China
| | - Huimin Liu
- School of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Liaoning University of Technology Jinzhou 121001 P. R. China
| | - Dehua He
- Innovative Catalysis Program, Key Lab of Organic Optoelectronics & Molecular Engineering of Ministry of Education, Department of Chemistry, Tsinghua University Beijing 100084 P. R. China
| | - Qijian Zhang
- School of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Liaoning University of Technology Jinzhou 121001 P. R. China
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Reed DA, Hochuli TJ, Gadjieva NA, He S, Wiscons RA, Bartholomew AK, Champsaur AM, Steigerwald ML, Roy X, Nuckolls C. Controlling Ligand Coordination Spheres and Cluster Fusion in Superatoms. J Am Chem Soc 2021; 144:306-313. [PMID: 34937334 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.1c09901] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
We show that reaction pathways from a single superatom motif can be controlled through subtle electronic modification of the outer ligand spheres. Chevrel-type [Co6Se8L6] (L = PR3, CO) superatoms are used to form carbene-terminated clusters, the reactivity of which can be influenced through the electronic effects of the surrounding ligands. This carbene provides new routes for ligand substitution chemistry, which is used to selectively install cyanide or pyridine ligands which were previously inaccessible in these cobalt-based clusters. The surrounding ligands also impact the ability of this carbene to create larger fused clusters of the type [Co12Se16L10], providing underlying information for cluster fusion mechanisms. We use this information to develop methods of creating dimeric clusters with functionalized surface ligands with site specificity, putting new ligands in specific positions on this anisotropic core. Finally, adjusting the carbene intermediates can also be used to perturb the geometry of the [Co6Se8] core itself, as we demonstrate with a multicarbene adduct that displays a substantially anisotropic core. These additional levels of synthetic control could prove instrumental for using superatomic clusters for many applications including catalysis, electronic devices, and creating novel extended structures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Douglas A Reed
- Department of Chemistry, Columbia University, New York, New York 10027, United States
| | - Taylor J Hochuli
- Department of Chemistry, Columbia University, New York, New York 10027, United States
| | - Natalia A Gadjieva
- Department of Chemistry, Columbia University, New York, New York 10027, United States
| | - Shoushou He
- Department of Chemistry, Columbia University, New York, New York 10027, United States
| | - Ren A Wiscons
- Department of Chemistry, Columbia University, New York, New York 10027, United States
| | | | - Anouck M Champsaur
- Department of Chemistry, Columbia University, New York, New York 10027, United States
| | - Michael L Steigerwald
- Department of Chemistry, Columbia University, New York, New York 10027, United States
| | - Xavier Roy
- Department of Chemistry, Columbia University, New York, New York 10027, United States
| | - Colin Nuckolls
- Department of Chemistry, Columbia University, New York, New York 10027, United States
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28
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Ali H, Masar M, Guler AC, Urbanek M, Machovsky M, Kuritka I. Heterojunction-based photocatalytic nitrogen fixation: principles and current progress. NANOSCALE ADVANCES 2021; 3:6358-6372. [PMID: 36133492 PMCID: PMC9417957 DOI: 10.1039/d1na00565k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2021] [Accepted: 09/16/2021] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Nitrogen fixation is considered one of the grand challenges of the 21st century for achieving the ultimate vision of a green and sustainable future. It is crucial to develop and design sustainable nitrogen fixation techniques with minimal environmental impact as an alternative to the energy-cost intensive Haber-Bosch process. Heterojunction-based photocatalysis has recently emerged as a viable solution for the various environmental and energy issues, including nitrogen fixation. The primary advantages of heterojunction photocatalysts are spatially separated photogenerated charge carriers while retaining high oxidation and reduction potentials of the individual components, enabling visible light-harvesting. This review summarises the fundamental principles of photocatalytic heterostructures, the reaction mechanism of the nitrogen reduction reaction, ammonia detection methods, and the current progress of heterostructured photocatalysts for nitrogen fixation. Finally, future challenges and prospects are briefly discussed for the emerging field of heterostructured photocatalytic nitrogen fixation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hassan Ali
- Centre of Polymer Systems, Tomas Bata University in Zlin Tr. T. Bati 5678 76001 Zlin Czech Republic
| | - Milan Masar
- Centre of Polymer Systems, Tomas Bata University in Zlin Tr. T. Bati 5678 76001 Zlin Czech Republic
| | - Ali Can Guler
- Centre of Polymer Systems, Tomas Bata University in Zlin Tr. T. Bati 5678 76001 Zlin Czech Republic
| | - Michal Urbanek
- Centre of Polymer Systems, Tomas Bata University in Zlin Tr. T. Bati 5678 76001 Zlin Czech Republic
| | - Michal Machovsky
- Centre of Polymer Systems, Tomas Bata University in Zlin Tr. T. Bati 5678 76001 Zlin Czech Republic
| | - Ivo Kuritka
- Centre of Polymer Systems, Tomas Bata University in Zlin Tr. T. Bati 5678 76001 Zlin Czech Republic
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29
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Lin L, Shi P, Fu L, He C, Huo J, Zhao C, Xie K, Yan L, Zhu L, Sun J, Zhang Z. First-principles study of two-dimensional material Cr2B2 as catalyst for electrochemical nitrogen reduction reaction. J Electroanal Chem (Lausanne) 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jelechem.2021.115677] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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30
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Cheng M, Xiao C, Xie Y. Shedding Light on the Role of Chemical Bond in Catalysis of Nitrogen Fixation. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2021; 33:e2007891. [PMID: 34476865 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202007891] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2020] [Revised: 06/20/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Ammonia (NH3 ) and nitrates are essential for human society because of their widespread utilization for producing medicines, fibers, fertilizers, etc. In recent years, the development on nitrogen fixation under mild reaction conditions has attracted much attention. However, the very low conversion efficiency and ambiguous catalytic mechanism remain the major hurdles for the research of nitrogen fixation. This review aims to clarify the role of chemical bond in catalytic nitrogen fixation by summarizing and analyzing the recent development of nitrogen fixation research. In detail, the atomic-scale mechanism of nitrogen fixation reaction, the various methods to improve the nitrogen fixation performance, and the computational investigation of nitrogen fixation are discussed, all from a chemical bond perspective. It is hoped that this review could trigger more profound pondering and deeper exploration in the field of catalytic nitrogen fixation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ming Cheng
- Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, CAS Centre for Excellence in Nanoscience, iCHEM, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, 230026, P. R. China
| | - Chong Xiao
- Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, CAS Centre for Excellence in Nanoscience, iCHEM, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, 230026, P. R. China
| | - Yi Xie
- Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, CAS Centre for Excellence in Nanoscience, iCHEM, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, 230026, P. R. China
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31
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Giner-Sanz JJ, Leverick G, Pérez-Herranz V, Shao-Horn Y. Optimization of the salicylate method for ammonia quantification from nitrogen electroreduction. J Electroanal Chem (Lausanne) 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jelechem.2021.115250] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
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32
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Chang B, Guo Y, Wu D, Li L, Yang B, Wang J. Plasmon-enabled N 2 photofixation on partially reduced Ti 3C 2 MXene. Chem Sci 2021; 12:11213-11224. [PMID: 34522319 PMCID: PMC8386658 DOI: 10.1039/d1sc02772g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2021] [Accepted: 07/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Benefiting from the superior conductivity, rich surface chemistry and tunable bandgap, Ti3C2 MXene has become a frontier cocatalyst material for boosting the efficiency of semiconductor photocatalysts. It has been theoretically predicted to be an ideal material for N2 fixation. However, the realization of N2 photofixation with Ti3C2 as a host photocatalyst has so far remained experimentally challenging. Herein, we report on a sandwich-like plasmon- and an MXene-based photocatalyst made of Au nanospheres and layered Ti3C2, and demonstrate its efficient N2 photofixation in pure water under ambient conditions. The abundant low-valence Ti (Ti(4-x)+) sites in partially reduced Ti3C2 (r-Ti3C2) produced by surface engineering through H2 thermal reduction effectively capture and activate N2, while Au nanospheres offer plasmonic hot electrons to reduce the activated N2 into NH3. The Ti(4-x)+ active sites and plasmon-generated hot electrons work in tandem to endow r-Ti3C2/Au with remarkably enhanced N2 photofixation activity. Importantly, r-Ti3C2/Au exhibits ultrahigh selectivity without the occurrence of competing H2 evolution. This work opens up a promising route for the rational design of efficient MXene-based photocatalysts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Binbin Chang
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Green Chemistry and Chemical Processes, School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China Normal University Shanghai 200241 China
| | - Yanzhen Guo
- Henan Provincial Key Laboratory of Nanocomposites and Applications, Institute of Nanostructured Functional Materials, Huanghe Science and Technology College Zhengzhou 450006 China
| | - Donghai Wu
- Henan Provincial Key Laboratory of Nanocomposites and Applications, Institute of Nanostructured Functional Materials, Huanghe Science and Technology College Zhengzhou 450006 China
| | - Li Li
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Green Chemistry and Chemical Processes, School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China Normal University Shanghai 200241 China
| | - Baocheng Yang
- Henan Provincial Key Laboratory of Nanocomposites and Applications, Institute of Nanostructured Functional Materials, Huanghe Science and Technology College Zhengzhou 450006 China
| | - Jianfang Wang
- Department of Physics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong Shatin Hong Kong SAR China
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33
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Wang CH, DeBeer S. Structure, reactivity, and spectroscopy of nitrogenase-related synthetic and biological clusters. Chem Soc Rev 2021; 50:8743-8761. [PMID: 34159992 DOI: 10.1039/d1cs00381j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
The reduction of dinitrogen (N2) is essential for its incorporation into nucleic acids and amino acids, which are vital to life on earth. Nitrogenases convert atmospheric dinitrogen to two ammonia molecules (NH3) under ambient conditions. The catalytic active sites of these enzymes (known as FeM-cofactor clusters, where M = Mo, V, Fe) are the sites of N2 binding and activation and have been a source of great interest for chemists for decades. In this review, recent studies on nitrogenase-related synthetic molecular complexes and biological clusters are discussed, with a focus on their reactivity and spectroscopic characterization. The molecular models that are discussed span from simple mononuclear iron complexes to multinuclear iron complexes and heterometallic iron complexes. In addition, recent work on the extracted biological cofactors is discussed. An emphasis is placed on how these studies have contributed towards our understanding of the electronic structure and mechanism of nitrogenases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chen-Hao Wang
- Max Planck Institute for Chemical Energy Conversion, Stiftstr. 34-36, 45470 Mülheim an der Ruhr, Germany.
| | - Serena DeBeer
- Max Planck Institute for Chemical Energy Conversion, Stiftstr. 34-36, 45470 Mülheim an der Ruhr, Germany.
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34
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Zhao X, Hu G, Chen GF, Zhang H, Zhang S, Wang H. Comprehensive Understanding of the Thriving Ambient Electrochemical Nitrogen Reduction Reaction. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2021; 33:e2007650. [PMID: 34197001 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202007650] [Citation(s) in RCA: 118] [Impact Index Per Article: 39.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2020] [Revised: 02/01/2021] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
The electrochemical method of combining N2 and H2 O to produce ammonia (i.e., the electrochemical nitrogen reduction reaction [E-NRR]) continues to draw attention as it is both environmentally friendly and well suited for a progressively distributed farm economy. Despite the multitude of recent works on the E-NRR, further progress in this field faces a bottleneck. On the one hand, despite the extensive exploration and trial-and-error evaluation of E-NRR catalysts, no study has stood out to become the stage protagonist. On the other hand, the current level of ammonia production (microgram-scale) is an almost insurmountable obstacle for its qualitative and quantitative determination, hindering the discrimination between true activity and contamination. Herein i) the popular theory and mechanism of the NRR are introduced; ii) a comprehensive summary of the recent progress in the field of the E-NRR and related catalysts is provided; iii) the operational procedures of the E-NRR are addressed, including the acquisition of key metrics, the challenges faced, and the most suitable solutions; iv) the guiding principles and standardized recommendations for the E-NRR are emphasized and future research directions and prospects are provided.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xue Zhao
- Institute for Ecological Research and Pollution Control of Plateau Lakes, School of Ecology and Environmental Science, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650504, China
| | - Guangzhi Hu
- Institute for Ecological Research and Pollution Control of Plateau Lakes, School of Ecology and Environmental Science, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650504, China
| | - Gao-Feng Chen
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510641, China
| | - Haibo Zhang
- College of Chemistry and Molecular Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430072, China
| | - Shusheng Zhang
- College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450000, China
| | - Haihui Wang
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Membrane Materials and Engineering, Department of Chemical Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, P. R. China
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35
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Mu H, Lin G, Zhang Y, Xiao Y, Liu J. Rational engineering of superaerophobic CoMoSx electrocatalysts for overall water splitting. Colloids Surf A Physicochem Eng Asp 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.colsurfa.2021.126734] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
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36
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Salinas O, Xie J, Papoular RJ, Horwitz NE, Elkaim E, Filatov AS, Anderson JS. Steric and electronic effects of ligand substitution on redox-active Fe 4S 4-based coordination polymers. Dalton Trans 2021; 50:10798-10805. [PMID: 34287442 DOI: 10.1039/d1dt01652k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
One of the notable advantages of molecular materials is the ability to precisely tune structure, properties, and function via molecular substitutions. While many studies have demonstrated this principle with classic carboxylate-based coordination polymers, there are comparatively fewer examples where systematic changes to sulfur-based coordination polymers have been investigated. Here we present such a study on 1D coordination chains of redox-active Fe4S4 clusters linked by methylated 1,4-benzene-dithiolates. A series of new Fe4S4-based coordination polymers were synthesized with either 2,5-dimethyl-1,4-benzenedithiol (DMBDT) or 2,3,5,6-tetramethyl-1,4-benzenedithiol (TMBDT). The structures of these compounds have been characterized based on synchrotron X-ray powder diffraction while their chemical and physical properties have been characterized by techniques including X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry and UV-visible spectroscopy. Methylation results in the general trend of increasing electron-richness in the series, but the tetramethyl version exhibits unexpected properties arising from steric constraints. All these results highlight how substitutions on organic linkers can modulate electronic factors to fine-tune the electronic structures of metal-organic materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Omar Salinas
- Chemistry, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, United States.
| | - Jiaze Xie
- Chemistry, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, United States.
| | - Robert J Papoular
- Leon Brillouin Laboratory, French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission Saclay Institute of Matter and Radiation, IRAMIS/CEA-Saclay, Gif-sur-Yvette, Île-de-France, France
| | - Noah E Horwitz
- Chemistry, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, United States.
| | | | | | - John S Anderson
- Chemistry, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, United States.
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37
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McSkimming A, Suess DLM. Dinitrogen binding and activation at a molybdenum-iron-sulfur cluster. Nat Chem 2021; 13:666-670. [PMID: 34045715 DOI: 10.1038/s41557-021-00701-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2020] [Accepted: 04/09/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The Fe-S clusters of nitrogenases carry out the life-sustaining conversion of N2 to NH3. Although progress continues to be made in modelling the structural features of nitrogenase cofactors, no synthetic Fe-S cluster has been shown to form a well-defined coordination complex with N2. Here we report that embedding an [MoFe3S4] cluster in a protective ligand environment enables N2 binding at Fe. The bridging [MoFe3S4]2(μ-η1:η1-N2) complex thus prepared features a substantially weakened N-N bond despite the relatively high formal oxidation states of the metal centres. Substitution of one of the [MoFe3S4] cubanes with an electropositive Ti metalloradical induces additional charge transfer to the N2 ligand with generation of Fe-N multiple-bond character. Structural and spectroscopic analyses demonstrate that N2 activation is accompanied by shortened Fe-S distances and charge transfer from each Fe site, including those not directly bound to N2. These findings indicate that covalent interactions within the cluster play a critical role in N2 binding and activation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alex McSkimming
- Department of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA.,Department of Chemistry, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Daniel L M Suess
- Department of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA.
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38
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Shang S, Xiong W, Yang C, Johannessen B, Liu R, Hsu HY, Gu Q, Leung MKH, Shang J. Atomically Dispersed Iron Metal Site in a Porphyrin-Based Metal-Organic Framework for Photocatalytic Nitrogen Fixation. ACS NANO 2021; 15:9670-9678. [PMID: 34024096 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.0c10947] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The rational design of photocatalysts for efficient nitrogen (N2) fixation at ambient conditions is important for revolutionizing ammonia production and quite challenging because the great difficulty lies in the adsorption and activation of the inert N2. Inspired by a biological molecule, chlorophyll, featuring a porphyrin structure as the photosensitizer and enzyme nitrogenase featuring an iron (Fe) atom as a favorable binding site for N2via π-backbonding, here we developed a porphyrin-based metal-organic framework (PMOF) with Fe as the active center as an artificial photocatalyst for N2 reduction reaction (NRR) under ambient conditions. The PMOF features aluminum (Al) as metal node imparting high stability and Fe incorporated and atomically dispersed by residing at each porphyrin ring promoting the adsorption and the activation of N2, termed Al-PMOF(Fe). Compared with the pristine Al-PMOF, Al-PMOF(Fe) exhibits a substantial enhancement in NH3 yield (635 μg g-1cat.) and production rate (127 μg h-1 g-1cat.) of 82% and 50%, respectively, on par with the best-performing MOF-based NRR catalysts. Three cycles of photocatalytic NRR experimental results corroborate a stable photocatalytic activity of Al-PMOF(Fe). The combined experimental and theoretical results reveal that the Fe-N site in Al-PMOF(Fe) is the active photocatalytic center that can mitigate the difficulty of the rate-determining step in photocatalytic NRR. The possible reaction pathways of NRR on Al-PMOF(Fe) were established. Our study of porphyrin-based MOF for the photocatalytic NRR will provide insight into the rational design of catalysts for artificial photosynthesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shanshan Shang
- School of Energy and Environment, City University of Hong Kong, Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon, Hong Kong, People's Republic of China
- City University of Hong Kong Shenzhen Research Institute, 8 Yuexing first Road, Shenzhen Hi-Tech Industrial Park, Nanshan District, Shenzhen 518057, People's Republic of China
| | - Wei Xiong
- School of Energy and Environment, City University of Hong Kong, Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon, Hong Kong, People's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Ecology and Environmental Engineering (Ministry of Education), School of Environmental Sciences and Technology, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, People's Republic of China
| | - Chao Yang
- Department of Civil Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong, People's Republic of China
| | - Bernt Johannessen
- Australian Synchrotron (ANSTO), 800 Blackburn Road, Clayton, Victoria 3168, Australia
| | - Rugeng Liu
- School of Energy and Environment, City University of Hong Kong, Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon, Hong Kong, People's Republic of China
- City University of Hong Kong Shenzhen Research Institute, 8 Yuexing first Road, Shenzhen Hi-Tech Industrial Park, Nanshan District, Shenzhen 518057, People's Republic of China
| | - Hsien-Yi Hsu
- School of Energy and Environment, City University of Hong Kong, Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon, Hong Kong, People's Republic of China
- City University of Hong Kong Shenzhen Research Institute, 8 Yuexing first Road, Shenzhen Hi-Tech Industrial Park, Nanshan District, Shenzhen 518057, People's Republic of China
| | - Qinfen Gu
- Australian Synchrotron (ANSTO), 800 Blackburn Road, Clayton, Victoria 3168, Australia
| | - Michael K H Leung
- School of Energy and Environment, City University of Hong Kong, Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon, Hong Kong, People's Republic of China
| | - Jin Shang
- School of Energy and Environment, City University of Hong Kong, Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon, Hong Kong, People's Republic of China
- City University of Hong Kong Shenzhen Research Institute, 8 Yuexing first Road, Shenzhen Hi-Tech Industrial Park, Nanshan District, Shenzhen 518057, People's Republic of China
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39
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Guo J, Wang M, Xu L, Li X, Iqbal A, Sterbinsky GE, Yang H, Xie M, Zai J, Feng Z, Cheng T, Qian X. Bioinspired Activation of
N
2
on Asymmetrical Coordinated Fe Grafted
1T MoS
2
at Room Temperature
†. CHINESE J CHEM 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/cjoc.202000675] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jiaojiao Guo
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering and State Key Laboratory of Metal Matrix Composites, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Shanghai 200240 China
| | - Maoyu Wang
- School of Chemical, Biological, and Environmental Engineering, Oregon State University Corvallis OR 97331 USA
| | - Liang Xu
- Institute of Functional Nano and Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon‐Based Functional Materials and Devices, Soochow University Suzhou Jiangsu 215123 China
| | - Xiaomin Li
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering and State Key Laboratory of Metal Matrix Composites, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Shanghai 200240 China
- Instrumental Analysis Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Shanghai 200240 China
| | - Asma Iqbal
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering and State Key Laboratory of Metal Matrix Composites, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Shanghai 200240 China
| | | | - Hao Yang
- Institute of Functional Nano and Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon‐Based Functional Materials and Devices, Soochow University Suzhou Jiangsu 215123 China
| | - Miao Xie
- Institute of Functional Nano and Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon‐Based Functional Materials and Devices, Soochow University Suzhou Jiangsu 215123 China
| | - Jiantao Zai
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering and State Key Laboratory of Metal Matrix Composites, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Shanghai 200240 China
| | - Zhenxing Feng
- School of Chemical, Biological, and Environmental Engineering, Oregon State University Corvallis OR 97331 USA
| | - Tao Cheng
- Institute of Functional Nano and Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon‐Based Functional Materials and Devices, Soochow University Suzhou Jiangsu 215123 China
| | - Xuefeng Qian
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering and State Key Laboratory of Metal Matrix Composites, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Shanghai 200240 China
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40
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Saji SE, Lu H, Lu Z, Carroll A, Yin Z. An Experimentally Verified LC-MS Protocol toward an Economical, Reliable, and Quantitative Isotopic Analysis in Nitrogen Reduction Reactions. SMALL METHODS 2021; 5:e2000694. [PMID: 34928081 DOI: 10.1002/smtd.202000694] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2020] [Revised: 12/04/2020] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
To substitute the energy-intensive Haber-Bosch process for the synthesis of ammonia, some labile techniques, such as photocatalysis, electrocatalysis, photoelectrocatalysis, and photothermocatalysis, have emerged and attracted intense research interest. However, the contamination of the reaction system is one of the major concerns on how to reliably and accurately evaluate the performance of these catalysts, which is why various control studies are involved. Isotopic labeling studies are one of the most reliable control strategies in nitrogen fixation experiments, to ensure that N2 is exclusively the source of the generated ammonia. As a convenient, sensitive and accurate technique distinguished with a quantitative atomic mass resolution, liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) has been extensively employed for the detection of ammonia in aqueous electrolyte systems. However, the previous work protocols for 15 N2 isotopic analysis using LC-MS either involved hazardous procedures which could potentially damage the instrument, or lacked in their experimental verification using real samples. Herein, a safe, reproducible and economical protocol for the detection of ammonia using LC-MS is presented, exhibiting an exponentially steep progressive detectivity of 15 N abundance, well verified with a series of experimental results for nitrogen reduction reactions. This is expected to provide a prudent cost-effective and sustainable gateway into isotopic analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra Elizabeth Saji
- Research School of Chemistry, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, 2601, Australia
| | - Haijiao Lu
- Research School of Chemistry, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, 2601, Australia
| | - Ziyang Lu
- Research School of Chemistry, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, 2601, Australia
| | - Adam Carroll
- Research School of Chemistry, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, 2601, Australia
| | - Zongyou Yin
- Research School of Chemistry, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, 2601, Australia
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41
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Tanabe Y, Nishibayashi Y. Comprehensive insights into synthetic nitrogen fixation assisted by molecular catalysts under ambient or mild conditions. Chem Soc Rev 2021; 50:5201-5242. [PMID: 33651046 DOI: 10.1039/d0cs01341b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
N2 is fixed as NH3 industrially by the Haber-Bosch process under harsh conditions, whereas biological nitrogen fixation is achieved under ambient conditions, which has prompted development of alternative methods to fix N2 catalyzed by transition metal molecular complexes. Since the early 21st century, catalytic conversion of N2 into NH3 under ambient conditions has been achieved by using molecular catalysts, and now H2O has been utilized as a proton source with turnover frequencies reaching the values found for biological nitrogen fixation. In this review, recent advances in the development of molecular catalysts for synthetic N2 fixation under ambient or mild conditions are summarized, and potential directions for future research are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoshiaki Tanabe
- Department of Applied Chemistry, School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan.
| | - Yoshiaki Nishibayashi
- Department of Applied Chemistry, School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan.
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42
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Lee J, Tan LL, Chai SP. Heterojunction photocatalysts for artificial nitrogen fixation: fundamentals, latest advances and future perspectives. NANOSCALE 2021; 13:7011-7033. [PMID: 33889914 DOI: 10.1039/d1nr00783a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
As an indispensable energy source, ammonia plays an essential role in agriculture and various industries. Given that the current ammonia production is still dominated by the energy-intensive and high carbon footprint Haber-Bosch process, photocatalytic nitrogen fixation represents a low-energy consuming and sustainable approach to generate ammonia. Heterostructured photocatalysts are hybrid materials composed of semiconductor materials containing interfaces that make full use of the unique superiorities of the constituents and synergistic effects between them. These promising photocatalysts have superior performances and substantial potential in photocatalytic reduction of nitrogen. In this review, a wide spectrum of recently developed heterostructured photocatalysts for nitrogen fixation to ammonia are evaluated. The fundamentals of solar-to-ammonia conversion, basic principles of various heterojunction photocatalysts and modification strategies are systematically reviewed. Finally, a brief summary and perspectives on the ongoing challenges and directions for future development of nitrogen photofixation catalysts are also provided.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiale Lee
- Multidisciplinary Platform of Advanced Engineering, Chemical Engineering Discipline, School of Engineering, Monash University, Jalan Lagoon Selatan, Bandar Sunway, 47500 Selangor, Malaysia.
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43
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Chen LW, Hao YC, Guo Y, Zhang Q, Li J, Gao WY, Ren L, Su X, Hu L, Zhang N, Li S, Feng X, Gu L, Zhang YW, Yin AX, Wang B. Metal-Organic Framework Membranes Encapsulating Gold Nanoparticles for Direct Plasmonic Photocatalytic Nitrogen Fixation. J Am Chem Soc 2021; 143:5727-5736. [PMID: 33847495 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.0c13342] [Citation(s) in RCA: 80] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Photocatalytic nitrogen fixation reaction can harvest the solar energy to convert the abundant but inert N2 into NH3. Here, utilizing metal-organic framework (MOF) membranes as the ideal assembly of nanoreactors to disperse and confine gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), we realize the direct plasmonic photocatalytic nitrogen fixation under ambient conditions. Upon visible irradiation, the hot electrons generated on the AuNPs can be directly injected into the N2 molecules adsorbed on Au surfaces. Such N2 molecules can be additionally activated by the strong but evanescently localized surface plasmon resonance field, resulting in a supralinear intensity dependence of the ammonia evolution rate with much higher apparent quantum efficiency and lower apparent activation energy under stronger irradiation. Moreover, the gas-permeable Au@MOF membranes, consisting of numerous interconnected nanoreactors, can ensure the dispersity and stability of AuNPs, further facilitate the mass transfer of N2 molecules and (hydrated) protons, and boost the plasmonic photocatalytic reactions at the designed gas-membrane-solution interface. As a result, an ammonia evolution rate of 18.9 mmol gAu-1 h-1 was achieved under visible light (>400 nm, 100 mW cm-2) with an apparent quantum efficiency of 1.54% at 520 nm.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li-Wei Chen
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Cluster Science, Beijing Key Laboratory of Photoelectronic/Electrophotonic Conversion Materials, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Yu-Chen Hao
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Cluster Science, Beijing Key Laboratory of Photoelectronic/Electrophotonic Conversion Materials, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Yu Guo
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Rare Earth Materials Chemistry and Applications, PKU-HKU Joint Laboratory in Rare Earth Materials and Bioinorganic Chemistry, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Qinghua Zhang
- Beijing National Laboratory for Condensed Matter Physics, Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
| | - Jiani Li
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Cluster Science, Beijing Key Laboratory of Photoelectronic/Electrophotonic Conversion Materials, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Wen-Yan Gao
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Cluster Science, Beijing Key Laboratory of Photoelectronic/Electrophotonic Conversion Materials, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Lantian Ren
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Cluster Science, Beijing Key Laboratory of Photoelectronic/Electrophotonic Conversion Materials, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Xin Su
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Cluster Science, Beijing Key Laboratory of Photoelectronic/Electrophotonic Conversion Materials, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Linyu Hu
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Cluster Science, Beijing Key Laboratory of Photoelectronic/Electrophotonic Conversion Materials, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Nan Zhang
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Cluster Science, Beijing Key Laboratory of Photoelectronic/Electrophotonic Conversion Materials, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Siwu Li
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Cluster Science, Beijing Key Laboratory of Photoelectronic/Electrophotonic Conversion Materials, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Xiao Feng
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Cluster Science, Beijing Key Laboratory of Photoelectronic/Electrophotonic Conversion Materials, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China.,Advanced Technology Research Institute, Beijing Institute of Technology, Jinan 250300, China
| | - Lin Gu
- Beijing National Laboratory for Condensed Matter Physics, Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
| | - Ya-Wen Zhang
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Rare Earth Materials Chemistry and Applications, PKU-HKU Joint Laboratory in Rare Earth Materials and Bioinorganic Chemistry, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - An-Xiang Yin
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Cluster Science, Beijing Key Laboratory of Photoelectronic/Electrophotonic Conversion Materials, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Bo Wang
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Cluster Science, Beijing Key Laboratory of Photoelectronic/Electrophotonic Conversion Materials, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China.,Advanced Technology Research Institute, Beijing Institute of Technology, Jinan 250300, China
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44
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Zhang D, He W, Ye J, Gao X, Wang D, Song J. Polymeric Carbon Nitride-Derived Photocatalysts for Water Splitting and Nitrogen Fixation. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2021; 17:e2005149. [PMID: 33690963 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202005149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2020] [Revised: 10/20/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Photocatalysis is a promising energy conversion and environmental restoration technology. The main focus of photocatalysis is the development and manufacture of highly efficient photocatalysts. Semiconductor-based photocatalysis technology based on harnessing solar energy is considered as an attractive approach to solve the problems of global energy shortage and environmental pollution. Since 2009 pioneering work has been carried out on polymeric carbon nitride (PCN) for visible photocatalytic water splitting, thus PCN-based photocatalysis has become a hot research topic, demanding significant research attention. This article reviews the physical and chemical properties, synthesis methods, and the methods to control the morphology, heteroatom doping, and construction of heterojunctions to improve the performance of PCN-based photocatalysts in water splitting and nitrogen fixation. Through different design strategies, the photo-generated electron-hole pair separation efficiency of PCN materials can be effectively improved, thereby improving their photocatalytic performance. Finally, the challenges of PCN-based photocatalysts in water splitting and nitrogen fixation applications are discussed herein. It is strongly believed that through different design strategies, efficient PCN-based photocatalysts can be constructed for both water splitting and nitrogen reduction. These excellent modification strategies can be used as a guiding theory for photocatalytic reactions of other promising catalysts and further promote the development of photocatalysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deliang Zhang
- School of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Qilu Institute of Technology, Jinan, 250200, P. R. China
- Key Laboratory of Optic-electric Sensing and Analytical Chemistry for Life Science (MOE), and College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Qingdao University of Science and Technology, Qingdao, 266042, P. R. China
| | - Wen He
- School of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Qilu Institute of Technology, Jinan, 250200, P. R. China
| | - Jiamin Ye
- MOE key Laboratory for Analytical Science of Food Safety and Biology College of Chemistry, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, 350108, P. R. China
| | - Xing Gao
- School of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Qilu Institute of Technology, Jinan, 250200, P. R. China
| | - Debao Wang
- Key Laboratory of Optic-electric Sensing and Analytical Chemistry for Life Science (MOE), and College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Qingdao University of Science and Technology, Qingdao, 266042, P. R. China
| | - Jibin Song
- MOE key Laboratory for Analytical Science of Food Safety and Biology College of Chemistry, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, 350108, P. R. China
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45
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Dey S, Awata T, Mitsushita J, Zhang D, Kasai T, Matsuura N, Katayama A. Promotion of biological nitrogen fixation activity of an anaerobic consortium using humin as an extracellular electron mediator. Sci Rep 2021; 11:6567. [PMID: 33753787 PMCID: PMC7985497 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-85955-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2020] [Accepted: 03/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Nitrogen fertiliser is manufactured using the industrial Haber–Bosch process, although it is extremely energy-consuming. One sustainable alternative technology is the electrochemical promotion of biological nitrogen fixation (BNF). This study reports the promotion of BNF activity of anaerobic microbial consortia by humin, a solid-phase humic substance, at any pH, functioning as an extracellular electron mediator, to levels of 5.7–11.8 times under nitrogen-deficient conditions. This was evidenced by increased acetylene reduction activity and total nitrogen content of the consortia. Various humins from different origins promoted anaerobic BNF activity, although the degree of promotion differed. The promotion effected by humin differed from the effects of chemical reducing agents and the effects of supplemental micronutrients and vitamins. The promotion of anaerobic BNF activity by only reduced humin without any other electron donor suggested that humin did not serve as organic carbon source but as extracellular electron mediator, for electron donation to the nitrogen-fixing microorganisms. The next generation sequencing (NGS) of partial 16S rRNA genes showed the predominance of Clostridiales (Firmicutes) in the consortia. These findings suggest the effectiveness of humin as a solid-phase extracellular electron mediator for the promotion of anaerobic BNF activity, potentially to serve for the basis for a sustainable technology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sujan Dey
- Graduate School of Engineering, Nagoya University, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya, 464-8603, Japan
| | - Takanori Awata
- National Institute for Land and Infrastructure Management, Asahi 1, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-0804, Japan
| | - Jumpei Mitsushita
- Graduate School of Engineering, Nagoya University, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya, 464-8603, Japan
| | - Dongdong Zhang
- Institute of Materials and Systems for Sustainability, Nagoya University, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya, 464-8603, Japan.,Ocean College, Zhejiang University, Zhoushan, 316021, China
| | - Takuya Kasai
- Graduate School of Engineering, Nagoya University, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya, 464-8603, Japan.,Institute of Materials and Systems for Sustainability, Nagoya University, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya, 464-8603, Japan
| | - Norihisa Matsuura
- School of Geosciences and Civil Engineering, Kanazawa University, Kakuma-machi, Kanazawa, Ishikawa, 920-1192, Japan
| | - Arata Katayama
- Graduate School of Engineering, Nagoya University, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya, 464-8603, Japan. .,Institute of Materials and Systems for Sustainability, Nagoya University, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya, 464-8603, Japan.
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46
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Yang K, Koepf M, Artero V. Revisiting amorphous molybdenum sulfide's activity for the electro-driven reduction of dinitrogen and N-containing substrates. Chem Commun (Camb) 2020; 56:13975-13978. [PMID: 33084630 DOI: 10.1039/d0cc05078d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Ammonia (NH3) is a major feedstock of the chemical industry. The imperious need to decarbonize its production has stimulated a quest for efficient catalysts able to drive the direct electro-reduction of dinitrogen (N2) into NH3. A large number of materials have now been proposed for this reaction, including bioinspired molybdenum sulfide derivatives. Here, we revisit the potential of amorphous molybdenum sulfide to drive the electrocatalytic reduction of N2 and other substrates of nitrogenase. We find that this material exhibits negligible activity towards N2 but achieves efficient reduction of inorganic azides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kun Yang
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, CEA, IRIG, Laboratoire de Chimie et Biologie des Métaux, Grenoble 38000, France.
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47
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Zheng J, Wu S, Lu L, Huang C, Ho PL, Kirkland A, Sudmeier T, Arrigo R, Gianolio D, Edman Tsang SC. Structural insight into [Fe-S 2-Mo] motif in electrochemical reduction of N 2 over Fe 1-supported molecular MoS 2. Chem Sci 2020; 12:688-695. [PMID: 34163801 PMCID: PMC8178972 DOI: 10.1039/d0sc04575f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The catalytic synthesis of NH3 from the thermodynamically challenging N2 reduction reaction under mild conditions is currently a significant problem for scientists. Accordingly, herein, we report the development of a nitrogenase-inspired inorganic-based chalcogenide system for the efficient electrochemical conversion of N2 to NH3, which is comprised of the basic structure of [Fe-S2-Mo]. This material showed high activity of 8.7 mgNH3 mgFe -1 h-1 (24 μgNH3 cm-2 h-1) with an excellent faradaic efficiency of 27% for the conversion of N2 to NH3 in aqueous medium. It was demonstrated that the Fe1 single atom on [Fe-S2-Mo] under the optimal negative potential favors the reduction of N2 to NH3 over the competitive proton reduction to H2. Operando X-ray absorption and simulations combined with theoretical DFT calculations provided the first and important insights on the particular electron-mediating and catalytic roles of the [Fe-S2-Mo] motifs and Fe1, respectively, on this two-dimensional (2D) molecular layer slab.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianwei Zheng
- Wolfson Catalysis Centre, Department of Chemistry University of Oxford Oxford OX1 3QR UK
| | - Simson Wu
- Wolfson Catalysis Centre, Department of Chemistry University of Oxford Oxford OX1 3QR UK
| | - Lilin Lu
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Wuhan University of Science and Technology China
| | - Chen Huang
- Department of Materials, University of Oxford Oxford OX1 PH UK
| | - Ping-Luen Ho
- Wolfson Catalysis Centre, Department of Chemistry University of Oxford Oxford OX1 3QR UK
| | - Angus Kirkland
- Department of Materials, University of Oxford Oxford OX1 PH UK
| | - Tim Sudmeier
- Wolfson Catalysis Centre, Department of Chemistry University of Oxford Oxford OX1 3QR UK
| | - Rosa Arrigo
- Diamond Light Source Harwell Campus, Chilton Oxfordshire OX11 0DE UK.,School of Science, Engineering and Environment, University of Salford Manchester M5 4WT UK
| | - Diego Gianolio
- Diamond Light Source Harwell Campus, Chilton Oxfordshire OX11 0DE UK
| | - Shik Chi Edman Tsang
- Wolfson Catalysis Centre, Department of Chemistry University of Oxford Oxford OX1 3QR UK
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48
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Yao C, Guo N, Xi S, Xu CQ, Liu W, Zhao X, Li J, Fang H, Su J, Chen Z, Yan H, Qiu Z, Lyu P, Chen C, Xu H, Peng X, Li X, Liu B, Su C, Pennycook SJ, Sun CJ, Li J, Zhang C, Du Y, Lu J. Atomically-precise dopant-controlled single cluster catalysis for electrochemical nitrogen reduction. Nat Commun 2020; 11:4389. [PMID: 32873783 PMCID: PMC7463028 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-18080-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2018] [Accepted: 07/28/2020] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
The ability to precisely engineer the doping of sub-nanometer bimetallic clusters offers exciting opportunities for tailoring their catalytic performance with atomic accuracy. However, the fabrication of singly dispersed bimetallic cluster catalysts with atomic-level control of dopants has been a long-standing challenge. Herein, we report a strategy for the controllable synthesis of a precisely doped single cluster catalyst consisting of partially ligand-enveloped Au4Pt2 clusters supported on defective graphene. This creates a bimetal single cluster catalyst (Au4Pt2/G) with exceptional activity for electrochemical nitrogen (N2) reduction. Our mechanistic study reveals that each N2 molecule is activated in the confined region between cluster and graphene. The heteroatom dopant plays an indispensable role in the activation of N2 via an enhanced back donation of electrons to the N2 LUMO. Moreover, besides the heteroatom Pt, the catalytic performance of single cluster catalyst can be further tuned by using Pd in place of Pt as the dopant. The fabrication of singly dispersed metal cluster catalysts with atomic-level control of dopants is a long-standing challenge. Here, the authors report a strategy for the synthesis of a precisely doped single cluster catalyst which shows exceptional activity for electrochemical dinitrogen reduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chuanhao Yao
- Department of Chemistry, National University of Singapore, 3 Science Drive 3, Singapore, 117543, Singapore.,Frontiers Science Center for Flexible Electronics (FSCFE), Shaanxi Institute of Flexible Electronics (SIFE) & Shaanxi Institute of Biomedical Materials and Engineering (SIBME), Northwestern Polytechnical University (NPU), 127 West Youyi Road, 710072, Xi'an, China
| | - Na Guo
- Department of Physics, National University of Singapore, 2 Science Drive 3, Singapore, 117542, Singapore
| | - Shibo Xi
- Institute of Chemical and Engineering Sciences, 1 Pesek Road, Jurong Island, 627833, Singapore
| | - Cong-Qiao Xu
- Department of Chemistry, Southern University of Science and Technology, 518055, Shenzhen, China
| | - Wei Liu
- Department of Chemistry, National University of Singapore, 3 Science Drive 3, Singapore, 117543, Singapore.,Centre for Advanced 2D Materials and Graphene Research Centre, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117546, Singapore
| | - Xiaoxu Zhao
- Department of Chemistry, National University of Singapore, 3 Science Drive 3, Singapore, 117543, Singapore.,NUS Graduate School for Integrative Sciences and Engineering, National University of Singapore, 28 Medical Drive, Singapore, 117456, Singapore.,Department of Materials Science & Engineering, National University of Singapore, 9 Engineering Drive 1, Singapore, 117575, Singapore
| | - Jing Li
- Department of Chemistry, National University of Singapore, 3 Science Drive 3, Singapore, 117543, Singapore
| | - Hanyan Fang
- Department of Chemistry, National University of Singapore, 3 Science Drive 3, Singapore, 117543, Singapore.,Centre for Advanced 2D Materials and Graphene Research Centre, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117546, Singapore
| | - Jie Su
- Department of Chemistry, National University of Singapore, 3 Science Drive 3, Singapore, 117543, Singapore.,Centre for Advanced 2D Materials and Graphene Research Centre, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117546, Singapore
| | - Zhongxin Chen
- Department of Chemistry, National University of Singapore, 3 Science Drive 3, Singapore, 117543, Singapore.,NUS Graduate School for Integrative Sciences and Engineering, National University of Singapore, 28 Medical Drive, Singapore, 117456, Singapore
| | - Huan Yan
- Department of Chemistry, National University of Singapore, 3 Science Drive 3, Singapore, 117543, Singapore
| | - Zhizhan Qiu
- Department of Chemistry, National University of Singapore, 3 Science Drive 3, Singapore, 117543, Singapore.,NUS Graduate School for Integrative Sciences and Engineering, National University of Singapore, 28 Medical Drive, Singapore, 117456, Singapore
| | - Pin Lyu
- Department of Chemistry, National University of Singapore, 3 Science Drive 3, Singapore, 117543, Singapore
| | - Cheng Chen
- Department of Chemistry, National University of Singapore, 3 Science Drive 3, Singapore, 117543, Singapore.,NUS Graduate School for Integrative Sciences and Engineering, National University of Singapore, 28 Medical Drive, Singapore, 117456, Singapore
| | - Haomin Xu
- Department of Chemistry, National University of Singapore, 3 Science Drive 3, Singapore, 117543, Singapore.,Centre for Advanced 2D Materials and Graphene Research Centre, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117546, Singapore
| | - Xinnan Peng
- Department of Chemistry, National University of Singapore, 3 Science Drive 3, Singapore, 117543, Singapore.,Centre for Advanced 2D Materials and Graphene Research Centre, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117546, Singapore
| | - Xinzhe Li
- Department of Chemistry, National University of Singapore, 3 Science Drive 3, Singapore, 117543, Singapore
| | - Bin Liu
- School of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Chenliang Su
- SZU-NUS Collaborative Centre and International Collaborative Laboratory of 2D Materials for Optoelectronic Science & Technology, College of Optoelectronic Engineering, Shenzhen University, 518060, Shenzhen, China
| | - Stephen J Pennycook
- NUS Graduate School for Integrative Sciences and Engineering, National University of Singapore, 28 Medical Drive, Singapore, 117456, Singapore.,Department of Materials Science & Engineering, National University of Singapore, 9 Engineering Drive 1, Singapore, 117575, Singapore
| | - Cheng-Jun Sun
- Advanced Photon Source, Argonne National Laboratory, 9700 South Cass Avenue, Argonne, IL, 60439, USA
| | - Jun Li
- Department of Chemistry, Southern University of Science and Technology, 518055, Shenzhen, China. .,Department of Chemistry and Key Laboratory of Organic Optoelectronics & Molecular Engineering of Ministry of Education, Tsinghua University, 100084, Beijing, China.
| | - Chun Zhang
- Department of Chemistry, National University of Singapore, 3 Science Drive 3, Singapore, 117543, Singapore. .,Department of Physics, National University of Singapore, 2 Science Drive 3, Singapore, 117542, Singapore. .,Centre for Advanced 2D Materials and Graphene Research Centre, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117546, Singapore.
| | - Yonghua Du
- Institute of Chemical and Engineering Sciences, 1 Pesek Road, Jurong Island, 627833, Singapore. .,National Synchrotron Light Source II, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, NY, 11973, USA.
| | - Jiong Lu
- Department of Chemistry, National University of Singapore, 3 Science Drive 3, Singapore, 117543, Singapore. .,Centre for Advanced 2D Materials and Graphene Research Centre, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117546, Singapore.
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49
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Guo J, Tadesse Tsega T, Ul Islam I, Iqbal A, Zai J, Qian X. Fe doping promoted electrocatalytic N2 reduction reaction of 2H MoS2. CHINESE CHEM LETT 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cclet.2020.02.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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50
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Edwards EH, Bren KL. Light-driven catalysis with engineered enzymes and biomimetic systems. Biotechnol Appl Biochem 2020; 67:463-483. [PMID: 32588914 DOI: 10.1002/bab.1976] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2020] [Accepted: 06/21/2020] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Efforts to drive catalytic reactions with light, inspired by natural processes like photosynthesis, have a long history and have seen significant recent growth. Successfully engineering systems using biomolecular and bioinspired catalysts to carry out light-driven chemical reactions capitalizes on advantages offered from the fields of biocatalysis and photocatalysis. In particular, driving reactions under mild conditions and in water, in which enzymes are operative, using sunlight as a renewable energy source yield environmentally friendly systems. Furthermore, using enzymes and bioinspired systems can take advantage of the high efficiency and specificity of biocatalysts. There are many challenges to overcome to fully capitalize on the potential of light-driven biocatalysis. In this mini-review, we discuss examples of enzymes and engineered biomolecular catalysts that are activated via electron transfer from a photosensitizer in a photocatalytic system. We place an emphasis on selected forefront chemical reactions of high interest, including CH oxidation, proton reduction, water oxidation, CO2 reduction, and N2 reduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily H Edwards
- Department of Chemistry, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, USA
| | - Kara L Bren
- Department of Chemistry, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, USA
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