The decomposition of nitric oxide (NO) into stoichiometric N2 and O2 at ambient conditions merely depending on the light irradiation and photocatalysts remains to be of great challenge owing to the huge activation barrier for both cleavage of N=O bonds and subsequent reconstruction of N≡N triple-bonds. Herein, ultrathin SrBi2Nb2O9 with the thickness of three atomic layers was fabricated, and oxygen vacancies (Vo) were spontaneously generated due to the drastically shrunk thickness. Such ultrathin SrBi2Nb2O9 displayed the capability to photocatalytically decompose NO into N2 and O2 at a close-to-stoichiometric ratio, whereas the defect-free counterpart SrBi2Nb2O9 hardly exhibited such activity. Theoretical calculations and in-situ FT-IR studies revealed the critical roles of Vo in favoring the adsorption of two NO molecules on the neighboring Bi around Vo, and the subsequent partial overlapping of the electron orbitals of two N atoms that guaranteed the preferential N-N coupling, based on which, the decomposition of NO into N2 and O2 via the intermediate of N2O was achieved upon illumination.

The decomposition of nitric oxide (NO) into stoichiometric N~2~ and O~2~ at ambient conditions merely depending on the light irradiation and photocatalysts remains to be of great challenge owing to the huge activation barrier for both cleavage of N=O bonds and subsequent reconstruction of N≡N triple-bonds. Herein, ultrathin SrBi~2~Nb~2~O~9~ with the thickness of three atomic layers was fabricated, and oxygen vacancies (Vo) were spontaneously generated due to the drastically shrunk thickness. Such ultrathin SrBi~2~Nb~2~O~9~ displayed the capability to photocatalytically decompose NO into N~2~ and O~2~ at a close-to-stoichiometric ratio, whereas the defect-free counterpart SrBi~2~Nb~2~O~9~ hardly exhibited such activity. Theoretical calculations and in-situ FT-IR studies revealed the critical roles of Vo in favoring the adsorption of two NO molecules on the neighboring Bi around Vo, and the subsequent partial overlapping of the electron orbitals of two N atoms that guaranteed the preferential N-N coupling, based on which, the decomposition of NO into N~2~ and O~2~ via the intermediate of N~2~O was achieved upon illumination.

Photocatalytic reduction of nitric oxide to nitrogen mediated by self-produced oxygen vacancies on quasi-two-dimensional bismuth-based perovskite

Fall 2022 abstracts, posters, and presentations will launch in mid-September.

ACS Fall 2022

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.