Enabling N2 to Ammonia Conversion in Bi2 WO6 -Based Materials: A New Avenue in Photocatalytic Applications.

Abstract

The field of photocatalysis has been evolving since 1972 since Honda and Fujishima's initial push for using light as an energy source to accomplish redox reactions. Since then, many photocatalysts have been studied, semiconductors or otherwise. A new photocatalytic application to convert N2 gas to ammonia (N2 fixation or nitrogen reduction reaction; NRR) has emerged. Many researchers have steered their research in this direction due to developments in the ease of ammonia detection through UV-Vis spectroscopy. This concept will specifically discuss Bi2 WO6 -based materials, techniques to enhance their photocatalytic activity (CO2 reduction, H2 production, pollutant removal, etc.), and their current application in photocatalytic NRR. Initially, a brief introduction of Bi2 WO6 along with its VB and CB potentials will be compared to various redox potentials. A final topic of interest would be a brief description of photocatalytic nitrogen fixation with additional consideration to Bi2 WO6 -based materials in N2 fixation. A major problem with photocatalytic NRR is the false ammonia quantification in Bi-based materials, which will be discussed in detail and also ways to minimize them.