Recent Progress of the Design and Engineering of Bismuth Oxyhalides for Photocatalytic Nitrogen Fixation

Abstract

Photocatalytic nitrogen fixation represents an effective technology for the artificial production of ammonia from atmospheric nitrogen, a critical step toward a sustainable economy. Bismuth oxyhalides (BiOX, X ¼ Cl, Br, and I) have emerged as viable catalysts for photocatalytic reduction of nitrogen into ammonia, due to their unique electronic structures and optical properties. Herein, the recent progress of BiOX-based photocatalysts for nitrogen fixation, with a focus on the reaction mechanism and pathways, materials preparation, and strategies of structural engineering for enhanced performance, is summarized. The article is concluded with a perspective where the promises and challenges of bismuthbased photocatalysts for nitrogen reduction to ammonia are highlighted, along with possible future research directions.

Structural Transformation of Heterogeneous Materials for Electrocatalytic Oxygen Evolution Reaction

“…Transition metal oxyhalides have been widely used as Li-ion cathodes and photocatalysts because of their advantageous electrochemical/physical properties. − Li and co-workers fabricated NiFeO x F y nanosheets and found dramatic activation of the OER activity and increase of the redox current. Using in situ Raman, ex situ XPS spectra of O 1s and F 1s, and in situ XAFS, Li and co-workers found that fluorine in NiFeO x F y gradually disappeared and enabled facile formation of defective and Fe-enriched Ni­(Fe)­O x H y as the active species.…”

Designed Nanoarchitectures of a BiOBr/BiOI Nanosheet Heterojunction Anchored on Dendritic Fibrous Nanosilica as Visible-Light Responsive Photocatalysts

“…These structural and electronic characteristics make BiOXs suitable for photocatalysts. The heterojunction of BiOX/BiOY (where X, Y = Cl, Br and I; X ≠ Y) effectively adjusted the band gap energy and increased the visible-light absorption capability, enhancing the photocatalytic activity of single-component BiOX. , The heterojunction, especially BiOBr/BiOI, achieves the fast transfer of electrons and holes, suppresses the recombination of electron–hole pairs, and enhances photocatalytic activity . Accordingly, the nanoscale BiOX and BiOX/BiOY photocatalysts under sunlight irradiation have been reported. ,− …”

Water-resistant organic–inorganic hybrid perovskite quantum dots activated by the electron-deficient d-orbital of platinum atoms for nitrogen fixation

“…41,58 Consequently, for selective NRR, the ideal catalysts of OIP QDs should be further designed with (1) a lower d-band state to weaken H adsorption and (2) abundant electron deficient sites with strong N 2 affinity. 54,59–61…”

“…41,58 Consequently, for selective NRR, the ideal catalysts of OIP QDs should be further designed with (1) a lower d-band state to weaken H adsorption and (2) abundant electron deficient sites with strong N 2 affinity. 54,[59][60][61] Herein, a water-resistant OIP QDs was rapidly prepared by the one-step ESI-based microdroplet synthesis in microseconds, termed as polycarbonate (PC)-part-encapsulated Zn, Pt IV -codoped PbO-MAPbBr 3 heterojunction (Pt IV /Zn/PbO/ PC-Zn/MAPbBr 3 ). During the fast ESI, the core of Zn/MAPbBr 3 was crystallized, followed by PC encapsulation to obtain good water-resistance without environmental pollution.…”