High-efficiency Fe-Mediated Bi2MoO6 nitrogen-fixing photocatalyst: Reduced surface work function and ameliorated surface reaction

A Fe-mediated Bi2MoO6 photocatalyst was constructed through a facile solvethermal method. The Fe-doping can improved the charge collection through a Fe3+/Fe2+ redox pathway, which serves as surface center for facilitating charge carriers migration. Besides that, the Fe-doping induced surface work function increase would also boost the charge transport to the surface of catalyst. [Display omitted] •The Fe-doping can reduce the surface work function of Bi2MoO6. The reduced surface function will promote the charge transport from bulk to surface.•The Fe-doping can act as surface active sites, which endows as-fabricated catalyst with charge collection ability to facilitate photogenerated electron-hole separation.•In sharp contrast with pristine Bi2MoO6, the Fe-mediated Bi2MoO6 exhibits 3.7 times higher photocatalytic activity for nitrogen fixation. Rapid carrier transport and efficient surface reactions are key factors for improving photocatalytic nitrogen fixation. Herein, an efficient Bi2MoO6 nitrogen-fixing photocatalyst was obtained using Fe-mediation. The Fe-doping induced surface work function reduction would boost the charge transport to the surface of catalyst. Besides that, the Fe-doping can also improve the charge collection through a Fe3+/Fe2+ redox pathway, which serves as active sites for nitrogen reduction. Thanks to above merits, Fe-mediated Bi2MoO6 exhibits dramatically enhanced visible-light-driven photocatalytic activity for nitrogen fixation, in sharp contrast with pristine Bi2MoO6. This work provides a new approach to improve photocatalytic nitrogen reduction reaction, which can pave the way for modification studies in nitrogen fixation photocatalysts.