Few-layer black phosphorus enables nitrogen fixation under ambient conditions

Garnes-Portolés F, Lloret V, Vidal-Moya JA, Löffler M, Mayrhofer K, Cerón-Carrasco JP, Abellán G, Leyva-Pérez A (2024)

Publication Language: English

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2024

Journal

RSC Advances Royal Society of Chemistry

Book Volume: 14

Pages Range: 4742-4747

Journal Issue: 7

DOI: 10.1039/d3ra07331a

Abstract

Nitrogen (N2) fixation is a key reaction in biological and industrial chemistry, which does not occur spontaneously under ambient conditions but often depends on very specific catalysts and harsh reaction processes. Here we show that exposing exfoliated black phosphorus to the open air triggers, concomitantly, the oxidation of the two-dimensional (2D) material and the fixation of up to 100 parts per million (0.01%) of N2 on the surface. The fixation also occurs in pristine non-exfoliated material. Besides, other allotropic forms of phosphorus, like red P, also fixes N2 during ambient oxidation, suggesting that the N2 fixation process is intrinsic with phosphorus oxidation and does not depend on the chemical structure or the dimensionality of the solid. Despite the low amounts of N2 fixed, this serendipitous discovery could have fundamental implications on the chemistry and environmental stability of phosphorous and the design of related catalysts for N2 fixation.

Authors with CRIS profile

Karl Mayrhofer Lehrstuhl für Elektrokatalyse (HIERN)

Involved external institutions

University of València / Universitat de València ES Spain (ES) Helmholtz-Institut Erlangen-Nürnberg für Erneuerbare Energien (HI-ERN) DE Germany (DE) Instituto de Tecnología Química ITQ ES Spain (ES) Centro Universitario de la Defensa (CUD) ES Spain (ES)

How to cite

APA:

Garnes-Portolés, F., Lloret, V., Vidal-Moya, J.A., Löffler, M., Mayrhofer, K., Cerón-Carrasco, J.P.,... Leyva-Pérez, A. (2024). Few-layer black phosphorus enables nitrogen fixation under ambient conditions. RSC Advances, 14(7), 4742-4747. https://doi.org/10.1039/d3ra07331a

MLA:

Garnes-Portolés, Francisco, et al. "Few-layer black phosphorus enables nitrogen fixation under ambient conditions." RSC Advances 14.7 (2024): 4742-4747.

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