Photocatalytic Fixation of Nitrogen to Ammonia by Single Ru Atom Decorated TiO₂ Nanosheets

Abstract

Photocatalysis shows a great potential for N2 fixation to NH3 under mild conditions, which intrigues increasing research attention in recent decades. To this end, the design of efficient photocatalysts is the key. Herein, we report the synthesis of single atom Ru decorated TiO2 nanosheets rich in oxygen vacancies. Single Ru sites greatly promoted photoreduction of aqueous N2 to NH3, affording an NH3 formation rate of 56.3 μg/h/gcat. We found that isolated Ru atoms likely weakened the hydrogen evolution, promoted absorption of N2, and also improved the charge carrier separation, which led to enhanced N2 photofixation.