Yiyang Li, Mengqi Duan, Simson Wu, Robert A. Taylor, Shik Chi Edman Tsang
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引用次数: 0
Abstract
Green ammonia evolution by photocatalytic means has gained significant attention over recent decades, however, the energy conversion efficiency remains unsatisfactory, and deep mechanistic insights are absent. Here in this work, this challenge is addressed by developing a photothermal system that synthesizes ammonia from nitrogen and natural seawater under simulated solar irradiation, employing ruthenium-doped barium tantalum oxynitride semiconductors. This method significantly enhances solar-to-ammonia conversion efficiency, providing a viable alternative to the energy-intensive Haber–Bosch process. Optimized at 240 °C, the system achieves an ammonia evolution rate of 5869 µmol g−1 h−1 in natural seawater. Moreover, detailed characterizations have shown that the use of seawater not only leverages an abundant natural resource but also improves the reaction kinetics and overall system stability. The catalysts maintain their activity and structural integrity over multiple cycles, demonstrating both the feasibility and the durability of this innovative system. Achieving a solar-to-ammonia efficiency of 13% and an overall energy conversion efficiency of 6.3%, this breakthrough highlights the potential to decentralize ammonia production, enhancing accessibility and sustainability. This approach combines the benefits of thermal and photocatalytic processes, marking a significant advancement in ammonia synthesis technology.
期刊介绍:
Established in 2011, Advanced Energy Materials is an international, interdisciplinary, English-language journal that focuses on materials used in energy harvesting, conversion, and storage. It is regarded as a top-quality journal alongside Advanced Materials, Advanced Functional Materials, and Small.
With a 2022 Impact Factor of 27.8, Advanced Energy Materials is considered a prime source for the best energy-related research. The journal covers a wide range of topics in energy-related research, including organic and inorganic photovoltaics, batteries and supercapacitors, fuel cells, hydrogen generation and storage, thermoelectrics, water splitting and photocatalysis, solar fuels and thermosolar power, magnetocalorics, and piezoelectronics.
The readership of Advanced Energy Materials includes materials scientists, chemists, physicists, and engineers in both academia and industry. The journal is indexed in various databases and collections, such as Advanced Technologies & Aerospace Database, FIZ Karlsruhe, INSPEC (IET), Science Citation Index Expanded, Technology Collection, and Web of Science, among others.