Synthesis and characterization of Ag/Cu dual-metal-functionalized porous Bi2WO6 microsphere with enhanced N2 photofixation

Semiconductor photocatalytic nitrogen reduction reaction (PNRR) stands as a promising clean technique for ammonia synthesis, yet it confronts numerous challenges. In this study, Ag nanoparticle-modified Cu-doped Bi 2 WO 6 (ACB) porous composite materials with varying mass percentages were successfully synthesized using a solvothermal reduction approach. The incorporation of transition metal Cu effectively modulates the energy band position of Bi 2 WO 6 . Furthermore, the introduction of Ag nanoparticles significantly suppresses the recombination of photogenerated carriers. Without adding sacrificial agent, the photocatalytic nitrogen fixation yield of ACB reaches an impressive 184.93 μmol·g −1 ·h −1 , which is 5.44 times higher than that of pristine Bi 2 WO 6 . A comprehensive analysis of the experimental results reveals that the combined effect of Cu doping and Ag nanoparticle loading endows ACB with an increased exposure of active sites, thereby significantly enhancing its photocatalytic nitrogen fixation performance. This research offers a promising approach for the design of metal nanoparticle-supported catalysts for PNRR, holding significant implications for the advancement of other material systems.