1. Single boron atom anchored on graphitic carbon nitride nanosheet (B/g-C2N) as a photocatalyst for nitrogen fixation: A first-principles study.
- Author
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Zhu, Hao-Ran, Chen, Jia-Liang, and Wei, Shi-Hao
- Subjects
MOLECULAR orbitals ,NITRIDES ,ATOMS ,BORON ,BAND gaps ,NITROGEN fixation ,CATALYSTS ,PHOTOCATALYSTS - Abstract
It is essential to explore high efficient catalysts for nitrogen reduction in ammonia production. Based on the first-principles calculation, we find that B/g-C
2 N can serve as high performance photocatalyst in N2 fixation, where single boron atom is anchored on the g-C2 N to form B/g-C2 N. With the introduction of B atom to g-C2 N, the energy gap reduces from 2.45 eV to 1.21 eV and shows strong absorption in the visible light region. In addition, N2 can be efficiently reduced on B/g-C2 N through the enzymatic mechanism with low onset potential of 0.07 V and rate-determining barrier of 0.50 eV. The "acceptance-donation" interaction between B/g-C2 N and N2 plays a key role to active N2 , and the BN2 moiety of B/g-C2 N acts as active and transportation center. The activity originates from the strong interaction between 1π1π* orbitals of N2 and molecular orbitals of B/g-C2 N, the ionization of 1π orbital and the filling of 1π* orbital can increase the N≡N bond length greatly, making the activation of N2 . Overall, this work demonstrates that B/g-C2 N is a promising photocatalyst for N2 fixation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]- Published
- 2021
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