Efficient Wide-spectrum-driven N2 Photofixation over g-C3N4/Cu2(OH)2Co3 Heterojunction Doped of Nitrogen Vacancies via Self-sacrificial Method

In this study,N vacancies-doped g-C3N4/Cu2(OH)2Co3(VCN/Cu) heterojunction catalyst with superior wide-spectrum-driven (from VIS to NIR) N2 photofixation ability was synthesized via in-situ self-sacrificial method. The experimental results show that the charge transfer between g-C3N4 and Cu2(OH)2Co3 follows the 'Z-scheme' mechanism. N vacancies-induced defect states might act as the initial charge carriers acceptor to reduce electron/hole recombination,and also promote the interfacial charge transfer from N vacancies of excited g-C3N4 to N2 and 2 molecules absorbed and pre-activated by N vacancies,leading more active sites.The nitrogen photofixation performance of as-prepared catalyst is deeply influenced by the 02content in reaction system with methanol as hole scavenger. The as-prepared VCN/Cu heterojunction catalyst demonstrates the ammonium ion production rate as high as 14. 52 mg • L-1 • h-1 • g-1 under the atmosphere of 50% 02 and 50% N2,which is 2.7 times higher than that under pure nitrogen atmosphere,and a ' three-channel' ammonia production mechanism is proposed. This study might open up a new vista to nitrogen fixation through the less energy-demanding green photocatalytic process. © 2024 Cailiao Daobaoshe/ Materials Review. All rights reserved.