High-performance ScGaN nanowire photocatalysts for photochemical nitrogen fixation under ambient conditions
Abstract
In this work, scandium gallium nitride (ScGaN) nanowires are investigated for photochemical nitrogen fixation to produce ammonia (NH3). GaN nanowires, a recently reported high-performance III-nitride catalyst for photochemical nitrogen fixation, are studied as a reference. Compared with GaN nanowires, ScGaN nanowires improve the NH3 yield by more than a factor of 2. Density functional theory calculations are performed to understand the mechanism. The more negative surface potential and stronger N2 binding energy are key contributing factors. With Si doping, a NH3 yield of 1926 μmol g−1 h−1 under ambient conditions and without using co-catalysts and organic scavengers is measured, among the highest values reported so far.
Article Details
Journal Info
Applied Physics Letters
American Institute of Physics
Authors (7)
Milad Fathabadi
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, McGill University 1 , 3480 University Street, Montreal, Quebec H3A 0E9,
Hyotaik Kang
Department of Chemistry, and FQRNT Centre for Green Chemistry and Catalysis, McGill University 2 , 801 Sherbrooke St. West, Montreal, Quebec H3A 0B8,
Khalid N. Anindya
Department of Physics, McGill University 3 , Rutherford Building, 3600 rue University, Montreal, Quebec H3A 2T8,
Aleksei Kavun
Department of Chemistry, and FQRNT Centre for Green Chemistry and Catalysis, McGill University 2 , 801 Sherbrooke St. West, Montreal, Quebec H3A 0B8,
Hong Guo
Chao-Jun Li
Songrui Zhao
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, McGill University 1 , 3480 University Street, Montreal, Quebec H3A 0E9,