Photocatalytic Nitrogen Fixation Materials and Mechanistic Features: State of the Art and Future Perspectives

Abstract

photocatalysis, nitrogen photofixation, material chemistry, heterojunctionThe essential role ammonia occupies, considering both its major industrial use for nitrogen-rich fertilizers and the possibility of being utilized as medium for energy storage, clashes with the environmental drawbacks of the Haber-Bosch process, its main production method. This review investigates the potential of photocatalytic nitrogen fixation (PNF) as an eco-friendly approach, driven by solar energy and inspired by natural nitrogenase enzymes. It traces the historical development of nitrogen fixation methods and focuses on recent advancements in photocatalytic materials, including metal oxides, sulfides, and composite systems. Strategies to enhance catalytic performance – including doping, defect engineering, and heterojunction construction – are showcased, thus providing a way to mitigate low conversion efficiency and electron-hole recombination. The work concludes by presenting emergent materials that could revolutionize the field, offering new paths for sustainable ammonia production.