Dual Active Centers Bridged by Oxygen Vacancies of Ruthenium Single‐Atom Hybrids Supported on Molybdenum Oxide for Photocatalytic Ammonia Synthesis

Abstract

AbstractPhotocatalytic synthesis of ammonia (NH3) holds significant potential compared with the Haber–Bosch process. However, the reported photocatalysts suffer from low efficiency owing to localized electron deficiency. Herein, Ru‐SA (single atoms)/HxMoO3−y hybrids with abundant of Mon+ (4<n<6) species neighboring oxygen vacancies (OV) are synthesized via a H‐spillover process. Detailed characterizations demonstrate that Ru‐SA/HxMoO3−y hybrids can quantitatively produce NH3 from N2 and H2 through the presence of dual active centers (Ru SA and Mon+). The Ru SA boost the activation and migration of H2, and Mon+ species act as the trapping sites of localized electrons and the adsorption and dissociation sites of N2, finally leading to NH3 synthesis on Mon+−OH. The NH3 generation rate is up to 4.0 mmol h−1 g−1, accompanied by an apparent quantum efficiency over 6.0 % at 650 nm.