Citation: Pengkun Li, Runjie Wu, Shuai Gao, Zeping Qin, Mingming Sun, Changzheng Wang, Wenming Sun, Qiang Wang. Bi-Bi₂Ti₂O₇ ohmic junction: Dual electron channels driving efficient photocatalytic nitrogen fixation[J]. Chinese Chemical Letters, ;2026, 37(1): 111116. doi: 10.1016/j.cclet.2025.111116 shu

Bi-Bi₂Ti₂O₇ ohmic junction: Dual electron channels driving efficient photocatalytic nitrogen fixation

Pengkun Li ^a ,
Runjie Wu ^a ,
Shuai Gao ^c ,
Zeping Qin ^a ,
Mingming Sun ^a ,
Changzheng Wang ^{b, *,} ,
Wenming Sun ^a ,
Qiang Wang ^{a, *,}

a.
Laboratory for Micro-sized Functional Materials & College of Elementary Education and Department of Chemistry, Capital Normal University, Beijing 100048, China
b.
Beijing Key Laboratory of Functional Materials for Building Structure and Environment Remediation, Beijing University of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Beijing 100044, China
c.
College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, The Key Laboratory of Water and Sediment Sciences (MOE), Peking University, Beijing 100871, China

changzhwang@163.com

qwchem@gmail.com

Received Date: 6 December 2024
Revised Date: 28 January 2025
Accepted Date: 18 March 2025
Available Online: 19 March 2025

Figures(4)

Photocatalysis uses solar energy to convert nitrogen and water directly into ammonia, helping reduce dependence on fossil fuels and offering a way to integrate the nitrogen cycle into a clean energy network. Ohmic junctions between metals and semiconductors have demonstrated significant advantages in enhancing stability and reducing carrier recombination, but their application in photocatalytic nitrogen fixation is limited due to the difficulty of work function matching and the complexity of fabrication processes. In this study, density functional theory (DFT) calculations were used to confirm the work function matching between Bi and Bi₂Ti₂O₇ (BTO), ensuring the formation of an Ohmic junction. A Bi-Bi₂Ti₂O₇ (B-BTO) composite was successfully synthesized via a one-step hydrothermal method, using bismuth nitrate and titanium sulfate as precursors. Compared to pure BTO, the B-BTO heterojunction, driven by dual electron injection from both metal Bi and BTO, significantly increased the ammonia synthesis rate to 686.95 µmol g⁻¹ h⁻¹, making it the most active nitrogen fixation material among similar pyrochlore-based catalysts to date. The differential charge density calculations, photocurrent (i-t) measurements, and photoluminescence (PL) tests further validate the role of Ohmic contacts in enhancing charge transfer and prolonging carrier lifetimes. This research provides valuable insight into the application of Ohmic junctions in photocatalytic nitrogen fixation and contributes to advancements in this field.
- Photocatalytic,
- N₂ fixation,
- Ohmic junction,
- Dual electron channels,
- Bi₂Ti₂O₇
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通讯作者: 陈斌, bchen63@163.com

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沈阳化工大学材料科学与工程学院沈阳 110142

Bi-Bi2Ti2O7 ohmic junction: Dual electron channels driving efficient photocatalytic nitrogen fixation

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通讯作者: 陈斌, bchen63@163.com

Bi-Bi₂Ti₂O₇ ohmic junction: Dual electron channels driving efficient photocatalytic nitrogen fixation