Single boron atom anchored on graphitic carbon nitride nanosheet (B/g-C2N) as a photocatalyst for nitrogen fixation: A first-principles study |
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Affiliation: | 1.Department of Microelectronic Science and Engineering, School of Physical Science and Technology, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, China;2.College of Electronic Information and Optical Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China |
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Abstract: | It is essential to explore high efficient catalysts for nitrogen reduction in ammonia production. Based on the first-principles calculation, we find that B/g-C2N can serve as high performance photocatalyst in N2 fixation, where single boron atom is anchored on the g-C2N to form B/g-C2N. With the introduction of B atom to g-C2N, the energy gap reduces from 2.45 eV to 1.21 eV and shows strong absorption in the visible light region. In addition, N2 can be efficiently reduced on B/g-C2N through the enzymatic mechanism with low onset potential of 0.07 V and rate-determining barrier of 0.50 eV. The "acceptance-donation" interaction between B/g-C2N and N2 plays a key role to active N2, and the BN2 moiety of B/g-C2N acts as active and transportation center. The activity originates from the strong interaction between 1π1π* orbitals of N2 and molecular orbitals of B/g-C2N, the ionization of 1π orbital and the filling of 1π* orbital can increase the N≡N bond length greatly, making the activation of N2. Overall, this work demonstrates that B/g-C2N is a promising photocatalyst for N2 fixation. |
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Keywords: | first-principles calculation N2 reduction catalysts electronic structure reaction mechanisms reaction paths |
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