Outstanding photocatalytic nitrogen fixation performance of TiO QDs modified by BiO/NaBiS nanostructures upon simulated sunlight.

Nowadays, a promising material for NH production under mild and safe conditions using heterogeneous photocatalysts is very important. In this regard, BiO and NaBiS nanoparticles were combined with TiO quantum dots (QDs) through a facile hydrothermal process. The TiO QDs/BiO/NaBiS nanocomposites displayed excellent performance in the photofixation of nitrogen upon simulated sunlight. The NH generation rate constant over the optimum nanocomposite was 10.2 and 3.3-folds higher than TiO (P25) and TiO QDs photocatalysts, respectively. The spectroscopic and electrochemical studies affirmed more effective segregation and transfer of photo-induced charge carriers within ternary nanocomposite, due to the developing tandem n-n-p heterojunctions, which led to more lifetime of charges. Moreover, the impacts of solvent, pH, electron scavenger, and lake of nitrogen molecules on the NH generation were investigated. Finally, it was concluded that the TiO QDs/BiO/NaBiS nanocomposite, with appealing features of more activity, high stability, and a facile one-pot synthesis method, is a promising photocatalyst in nitrogen fixation technology.