Photoelectrochemical reduction of N₂ to NH₃ under ambient conditions through hierarchical MoSe₂@g-C₃N₄ heterojunctions

Abstract

Ammonia is the main precursor for the production of fertilizers, a hydrogen energy carrier and an emerging clean fuel that plays a crucial role in sustaining life on the globe.

Architecture lattice‐matched cauliflower‐like CuO/ZnO p–n heterojunction toward efficient water splitting

“…Transformation and storage of solar energy into clean fuel and electricity via photoelectrochemical (PEC) splitting of water is a promising vital approach to meet continuing increasing energy demands. [1][2][3] Compared with photocatalytic (PC) water splitting, 4,5 it takes full advantage of easy separation of gaseous products and retrieval of catalyst on electrodes. 6 The photoelectrode catalyst material is the most important component in a PEC system, which could fundamentally determine the solar-tohydrogen conversion efficiency.…”

Fabrication of tailored rod-shaped carbon nitride, g-C3N4, decorated with MoSe2 flowers for the catalytic reduction of nitrophenol, organic dye degradation and biocompatibility studies

“…5(b)) of bare b-CN, four peaks are observed at 398.07 eV, 399.15 eV, 400.50 eV and 404.45 eV which are assigned to the π-excitation, sp 2 hybridized pyridinic nitrogen in the C–NC bond present in s -triazine rings, pyrrolic tertiary nitrogen groups (N–(C) 3 ) and the defective uncondensed amino groups (N–H x ) in the triazine substructure respectively. 35,54 As for CNM (6 : 1), the binding energies of N 1s peaks displayed a positive shift by ∼0.5 eV as compared to b-CN. This high energy offset of the peak for CNM (6 : 1) implies that the chemical environment of both carbon and nitrogen has been affected by composite formation.…”

“…5(f)) manifest the presence of Se as Se 2− in CNM (6 : 1), further revealing the presence of MoSe 2 in CNM (6 : 1). 33,35 However, compared to the pristine MoSe 2 , there occur a positive and a negative binding energy shift towards lower binding energy for Mo 3d and Se 3d in CNM (6 : 1) composites due to the stronger interfacial interaction between g-C 3 N 4 and MoSe 2 . From aforementioned studies we can elucidate the successful hybridization of micro-flower MoSe 2 on the rod-shaped b-CN for excellent catalytic activity.…”

“…S3 (ESI†) for CNM (6 : 1), the slight initial loss below 300 °C is due to the evaporation of adsorbed water molecules. 35 The second loss of weight in the range of 298–430 °C could be attributed to the loss of gases, such as NH 3 , H 2 O, and NO and presence of melem in the structure. 52,53 The loss of such gases induces the incomplete polymerization of b-CN and promotes the formation of a rod-shaped structure.…”

“…The positive shift directs proper chemical interaction between rod shaped b-CN and flowers of MoSe 2 . 35 The above-mentioned increased binding energies might be accredited to electron transfer from oxygen encapsulated b-CN to MoSe 2 as a result of a van der Waals interaction at their interface, which would further facilitate electron transfer. 34 Additionally, as presented in the O 1s spectra (Fig.…”