Chinese Journal of Catalysis ›› 2021, Vol. 42 ›› Issue (10): 1763-1771.DOI: 10.1016/S1872-2067(21)63799-3

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Tunable and stable localized surface plasmon resonance in SrMoO4 for enhanced visible light driven nitrogen reduction

Qiang Lia, Zhenhuan Zhaoa(), Xiaoxia Baia, Xin Tongb, Shuai Yuec, Jingying Luoa, Xin Yud, Zhenni Wanga, Zheng Wanga(), Peipei Lia, Yanping Lianga, Zhiming Wangb()   

  1. aDepartment of Applied Chemistry, School of Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology, Xidian University, Xi’an 710126, Shaanxi, China
    bInstitute of Fundamental and Frontier Sciences, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 610054, Sichuan, China
    cNational Center for Nanoscience and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
    dInstitute for Advanced Interdisciplinary Research, University of Jinan, Jinan 250022, Shandong, China
  • Received:2021-01-23 Accepted:2021-03-05 Online:2021-10-18 Published:2021-06-20
  • Contact: Zhenhuan Zhao,Zheng Wang,Zhiming Wang
  • About author:$E-mail: zhmwang@uestc.edu.cn
  • Supported by:
    National Key Research and Development Program of China(2019YFE0121600);Natural Science Foundation of Shaanxi province(2019JM-298);Innovation Fund of Xidian University for Graduate Students(YJS2113)

Abstract:

Photocatalytic nitrogen reduction for the green synthesis of ammonia at ambient conditions has been slowed by the narrow light harvesting range, low activity and high charge recombination of photocatalysts. Plasmonic semiconducting nanomaterials are becoming the promising candidates for nitrogen photofixation because of the broad absorption spectrum, rich defects and hot carriers. In the present study, plasmonic SrMoO4 is developed by regulating the concentration of oxygen vacancies that are accompanied in the reduction process from Mo6+ to Mo5+. The stable and tunable localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) absorption in visible and near infrared light range makes the wide bandgap SrMoO4 utilize the solar energy more efficiently. Energetic electrons from both the intrinsic band excitation and the LSPR excitation enable the reduction of dinitrogen molecules thermodynamically in ultrapure water to ammonia. This work provides a unique clue to design efficient photocatalysts for nitrogen fixation.

Key words: SrMoO4, Plasmonic semiconductor, Localized surface plasmon resonance, Oxygen vacancy, Photocatalytic nitrogen reduction