Interfacial Zn─O─Ti Sites for Efficient Photocatalytic Urea Synthesis from CO <sub>2</sub> and N <sub>2</sub>

Abstract Urea photosynthesis from CO 2 and N 2 has profound environmental and energy implications. However, the simultaneous activation of CO 2 and N 2 , along with the promotion of C─N bond formation, remains a major challenge. Herein, the asymmetric interfacial sites (Zn─O─Ti) were engineered by building oxygen atom bridges between ZIF‐8 and MIL‐125 to enable efficient photocatalytic urea synthesis. The optimized Zn─O─Ti interface structure achieves a urea yield of 130 µmol g −1 h −1 in pure water and an apparent quantum yield of 5.52% at 350 nm, outperforming most materials reported for urea photosynthesis. Mechanistic studies reveal that Zn sites catalyze the conversion of CO 2 to *CO species, while Ti sites adsorb and activate N 2 to generate *NH–NH species. The asymmetric interfacial sites lower the energy barrier for the coupling of *CO and *NH–NH to form *CONH 2 intermediates, thereby promoting urea photosynthesis. This work provides significant insights into designing interfacial asymmetric sites to facilitate photosynthetic organic chemicals for upgrading the nitrogen cycle.

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Publication Details

Journal
Angewandte Chemie
Published
2025-09-08
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1002/ange.202517121
Primary Topic
Geochemistry and Geologic Mapping
Type
article
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article

Interfacial Zn─O─Ti Sites for Efficient Photocatalytic Urea Synthesis from CO 2 and N 2

Angewandte Chemie
Geochemistry and Geologic Mapping
article

Interfacial Zn─O─Ti Sites for Efficient Photocatalytic Urea Synthesis from CO 2 and N 2

article en

Abstract

Abstract Urea photosynthesis from CO 2 and N 2 has profound environmental and energy implications. However, the simultaneous activation of CO 2 and N 2 , along with the promotion of C─N bond formation, remains a major challenge. Herein, the asymmetric interfacial sites (Zn─O─Ti) were engineered by building oxygen atom bridges between ZIF‐8 and MIL‐125 to enable efficient photocatalytic urea synthesis. The optimized Zn─O─Ti interface structure achieves a urea yield of 130 µmol g −1 h −1 in pure water and an apparent quantum yield of 5.52% at 350 nm, outperforming most materials reported for urea photosynthesis. Mechanistic studies reveal that Zn sites catalyze the conversion of CO 2 to *CO species, while Ti sites adsorb and activate N 2 to generate *NH–NH species. The asymmetric interfacial sites lower the energy barrier for the coupling of *CO and *NH–NH to form *CONH 2 intermediates, thereby promoting urea photosynthesis. This work provides significant insights into designing interfacial asymmetric sites to facilitate photosynthetic organic chemicals for upgrading the nitrogen cycle.

Angewandte ChemieVol. 137(45)
Changzhou University (CN), Anhui Normal University (CN), Yangzhou University (CN)
Openalex Percentile: Top 45%
Geochemistry and Geologic Mapping
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