Unveiling the critical role of TiO2-supported atomically dispersed Cu species for enhanced photofixation of N2 to nitrate

1A flow system using TiO2-supported atomically dispersed Cu species for mild photofixation of atmospheric N2 to nitrate was designed.2The optimized Cu/TiO2 exhibited an excellent synthesis rate of nitrate (0.93 μmol h−1) and high selectivity (≥90%).3In-situ diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy was used to directly monitor and identify the NOx intermediates chemisorbed onto the Cu species, indicating the active Cu sites and the reaction pathway of N2 from NOx intermediates to nitrate in the as-designed Cu/TiO2.4The enhanced performance can be ascribed to the atomically dispersed Cu species in the Cu/TiO2 sample, promoting the adsorption and activation of reactants (N2 and O2) and charge transfer for the subsequent formation of NOx intermediates, thus achieving high-efficiency nitrate synthesis.