Turning nitrate into ammonia with sunlight and gold says TU Wien

Researchers at the Vienna University of Technology (TU Wien) have developed a new catalyst combining MXene and gold to enhance ammonia production using sunlight and electricity. MXene, a material primarily composed of carbon and titanium, works in tandem with gold nanoparticles to convert nitrate from wastewater into ammonia more efficiently. This process leverages both the light and heat generated by sunlight, significantly increasing efficiency.

The MXene material features atomically thin layers that act as nanoantennas, capturing sunlight and transferring energy to gold particles where ammonia is produced. The unique electronic properties of MXene allow electrons to oscillate, creating plasmons that transfer energy to the gold nanoparticles. This energy transfer is facilitated by both accelerated electrons and a temperature difference between MXene and gold, enhanced by the Seebeck effect.

The innovative catalyst achieves ammonia production of 2.1 mol per gram of catalyst per hour, indicating strong potential for industrial applications. The combination of MXene and gold allows thermal energy to contribute significantly to the catalytic process, accounting for 57% of the reactivity. This approach reduces the energy required for ammonia production, making it a promising advancement in the field of chemical manufacturing.

The research, conducted in collaboration with Soochow University in China, demonstrates the potential of integrating thermal energy into photocatalytic processes. The findings are detailed in a publication in Advanced Functional Materials, highlighting the unconventional thermal contributions in plasmonic catalysis.