Construction of 2D/2D Z-scheme MnO2-x/g-C3N4 photocatalyst for efficient nitrogen fixation to ammonia

Reducing nitrogen to ammonia with solar energy has become a wide concern when it comes to photocatalysis research.It is considered to be one of the more promising alternate options for the conventional Haber–Bosch cycle.Herein,2D g-CNcomposites with modifying ultrathin sheet MnOwere prepared and used as nitrogen fixation photocatalyst.With the assistance of the nature of MnO,the generation rate of NHreached 225 mmol gh,which is more than twice over the rate of pristine 2D g-CN(107 mmol gh).The presence of ultrathin sheet MnOshortens the gap of the carriers to the surface of photocatalyst.Thus the speed of electron transfer gets increased.Besides,the construction of Z-scheme heterojunction boosts the separation and migration of photogenerated carriers.As a result,the nitrogen reduction reaction(NRR) performance gets enhanced.The work may provide an example of promoting the NRR performance of non-metallic compound.