Phase (matter)

Photochemistry

Materials science

Infrared

Nuclear physics

Stability (learning theory)

Computer science

Nitrogen

Visible spectrum

Monochromatic color

Physics

Nanotechnology

Organic chemistry

Irradiation

Optics

Near-infrared spectroscopy

Plasmon

Chemistry

Optoelectronics

Machine learning

Applied Catalysis B Environment and Energy

Utilization of infrared (IR)/near-infrared (NIR) light paves an opportunity to improve the efficiency of N2 photofixation under full-spectrum irradiation, but remains as a grand challenge. Herein, a highly active photocatalyst toward NIR light-driven N2 photofixation was successfully developed by construction of plasmonic Ti3C2Tx MXene and TiO2 hybrid structures (Ti3C2Tx/TiO2-400). Impressively, Ti3C2Tx/TiO2-400 exhibited remarkable activity in N2 photofixation under full-spectrum irradiation of Xenon lamp, attaining an NH3 production rate of 422 μmol gcat.–1 h–1 without any sacrificial agents. More importantly, superior activity under NIR light was even achieved for Ti3C2Tx/TiO2-400 with the NH3 production rate up to 82 μmol gcat.–1 h–1 by applying 740-nm monochromatic light. Further mechanistic studies revealed that plasmonic Ti3C2Tx Mxene phase in Ti3C2Tx/TiO2-400 enabled the harvesting of NIR light. Moreover, oxygen vacancies in TiO2 phase of Ti3C2Tx/TiO2-400 served as the active centers to efficiently adsorb and activate N2.

Near-infrared light-driven photofixation of nitrogen over Ti3C2Tx/TiO2 hybrid structures with superior activity and stability