Au modified BiVO4 microparticles for photocatalytic N2 fixation

Abstract:

In this work, a visible light photocatalyst based on Au modified BiVO4 microspheres was synthesized successfully through using a facile photodeposition method for visible light N2 fixation. Compared with pure BiVO4 microparticles (MPs), the obtained Au/BiVO4 MPs show superior N2 photofixation performance to BiVO4, owing to the enhancements of both the visible light absorption and charge carrier separation. After optimization, the actual NH4+ generation rate of Au/BiVO4 reaches 0.419 mg.L-1, which is approximately 2 times higher than that of the pure BiVO4 one. The results presented herein provide new insights into rational design of highly active catalysts with Au NPs toward efficient, stable, and sustainable visible light N2 fixation in mild conditions.