Anchoring heterometallic cluster on P-doped carbon nitride for efficient photocatalytic nitrogen fixation in water and air ambient

Light-driven nitrogen fixation to produce ammonia is a green and economical technology of nitrogen reduction but is still quite challenging, especially in an air atmosphere without any sacrificial reagents. Herein, we demonstrate efficient photocatalytic nitrogen fixation using water and air directly by loading lanthanide–transition metal (4f–3d) cluster NdCo3 on two-dimensional P-doped graphitic carbon nitrides (PCN) material surface. Benefiting from the increase in the number of nitrogen vacancies (NVs) and highly matched band gap structure and excellent hole trapping ability of clusters, the NdCo3/PCN photocatalyst exhibits efficient nitrogen reduction activity with 371 (in air) and 825 µmol·h−1·g−1 (in pure nitrogen) without any sacrificial reagents. The introduction of potassium sulfate inhibits hydrogen production and promotes nitrogen reduction activation. This work suggests that anchoring precisely structured clusters on 2D materials may enhance photocatalytic nitrogen reduction under normal temperature and pressure.