Direct Z‐scheme among Niobium Pentoxide and Poly(heptazine imide) for NH3 Photoelectrosynthesis under Ambient Conditions

There is a crescent need to improve well‐known processes to environmentally friendly options, and NH3 production is not an exception. Herein, we describe the photoelectrochemical nitrogen reduction reaction under a carbon nitride, the poly(heptazine imide) (PHI) using mild conditions for NH3 synthes...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:ChemCatChem 2023-03, Vol.15 (5), p.n/a
Main Authors: Blaskievicz, Sirlon F., Freitas Teixeira, Ivo, Mascaro, Lucia Helena, Ferreira de Brito, Juliana
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Ammonia
Ammonia synthesis
Carbon nitride
Charge transfer
Chemical reduction
N2 reduction
Niobium oxides
Photocathodes
Photoelectrocatalysis
Poly(Heptazine Imide)
Polymeric carbon nitrides
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Summary:There is a crescent need to improve well‐known processes to environmentally friendly options, and NH3 production is not an exception. Herein, we describe the photoelectrochemical nitrogen reduction reaction under a carbon nitride, the poly(heptazine imide) (PHI) using mild conditions for NH3 synthesis. For this purpose, PHI was combined with Nb2O5 nanotubes, leading to a new photocathode with a charge transfer process in a Z‐scheme structure. The photoelectrocatalytic N2 reduction was carried out in Nb2O5Nt/PHI using solar‐simulated radiation and with an applied bias of −0.3 VAg/AgCl. The PHI presence in the photocathode showed not only superior stability compared to bare Nb2O5, but also an ammonia generation rate of 0.156 mmol L−1 h−1 cm−2, which is about 10‐fold higher than the amount obtained with niobium oxide alone. The mild and green conditions employed for ammonia generation place the obtained photocathode as a promising option for the currently used Haber‐Bosch process. Photoelectrochemical nitrogen reduction: Looking to other possibilities to produce NH3 than the Haber‐Bosch process, this work describes the reduction of N2 by photoelectrocatalysis using poly(heptazine imide) (PHI) deposited on niobium pentoxide oxide (Nb2O5) photocatalyst. The photoelectrosynthesis of NH3 was carried out using mild and green conditions improving 10‐fold the production by the presence of PHI compared to bare Nb2O5.
ISSN:1867-3880
1867-3899
DOI:10.1002/cctc.202201610