Synergistic CNT‐Integrated Ni‐Phthalocyanine/g‐C 3 N 4 Heterojunctional Photocatalysts With Single Ni–N 4 (II) Sites for Efficient Ammonia Synthesis

ABSTRACT The photochemical reduction of nitrogen offers an environmentally friendly approach for ammonia synthesis, providing an alternative to the energy‐intensive and emission‐heavy Haber–Bosch process. Despite its promise, the process is impeded by slow nitrogen activation and excessive hydrogen evolution. To overcome these limitations, we present a tandem nickel phthalocyanine (NiPc)/CNT‐P&Cu‐BCN photocatalyst, engineered with an organic–organic heterojunction for enhanced nitrogen conversion. This system integrates boron‐doped (B), nitrogen‐deficient (N) carbon nitride (CN), modified via Cu–Cu coordination and phosphorus doping through sodium borohydride‐assisted thermal treatment, with hydrogen‐bonded, ultrathin NiPc nanosheets. This novel design yields a record ammonia production rate of 915.4 μmol g −1 h −1 under visible light, a remarkable 16‐fold increase compared to traditional BCN materials. The improvement is attributed to precise bandgap engineering; boron doping and nitrogen vacancies adjust the electronic structure, while the synergistic effects of Cu, P, and CNT enhance charge transfer dynamics. The ultrathin NiPc framework introduces atomically dispersed active sites, whereas a Z‐scheme‐driven charge separation mechanism facilitates efficient electron movement. This work, by integrating defect engineering, heterojunction design, and single‐atom catalysis, contributes to the advancement of photocatalytic nitrogen fixation, offering a scalable pathway for sustainable ammonia production. The results underscore the importance of multi‐component synergy in overcoming kinetic barriers, opening new avenues for energy‐efficient alternatives to conventional synthesis methods.

Authors

Institutions

Publication Details

Journal
Electron
Published
2026-11-02
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1002/elt2.70075
Primary Topic
Ammonia Synthesis and Nitrogen Reduction
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00
Controls
|||
ALL TIME
JAN
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
OCT
article

Synergistic CNT‐Integrated Ni‐Phthalocyanine/g‐C 3 N 4 Heterojunctional Photocatalysts With Single Ni–N 4 (II) Sites for Efficient Ammonia Synthesis

Kanwal Iqbal, Atef El Jery, Habib Khemira, Khaled Alsaikhan et al.
Electron
Ammonia Synthesis and Nitrogen Reduction
article

Synergistic CNT‐Integrated Ni‐Phthalocyanine/g‐C 3 N 4 Heterojunctional Photocatalysts With Single Ni–N 4 (II) Sites for Efficient Ammonia Synthesis

Kanwal Iqbal, Atef El Jery, Habib Khemira, Khaled Alsaikhan, Imran Khan, Anam Iqbal
article en

Abstract

ABSTRACT The photochemical reduction of nitrogen offers an environmentally friendly approach for ammonia synthesis, providing an alternative to the energy‐intensive and emission‐heavy Haber–Bosch process. Despite its promise, the process is impeded by slow nitrogen activation and excessive hydrogen evolution. To overcome these limitations, we present a tandem nickel phthalocyanine (NiPc)/CNT‐P&Cu‐BCN photocatalyst, engineered with an organic–organic heterojunction for enhanced nitrogen conversion. This system integrates boron‐doped (B), nitrogen‐deficient (N) carbon nitride (CN), modified via Cu–Cu coordination and phosphorus doping through sodium borohydride‐assisted thermal treatment, with hydrogen‐bonded, ultrathin NiPc nanosheets. This novel design yields a record ammonia production rate of 915.4 μmol g −1 h −1 under visible light, a remarkable 16‐fold increase compared to traditional BCN materials. The improvement is attributed to precise bandgap engineering; boron doping and nitrogen vacancies adjust the electronic structure, while the synergistic effects of Cu, P, and CNT enhance charge transfer dynamics. The ultrathin NiPc framework introduces atomically dispersed active sites, whereas a Z‐scheme‐driven charge separation mechanism facilitates efficient electron movement. This work, by integrating defect engineering, heterojunction design, and single‐atom catalysis, contributes to the advancement of photocatalytic nitrogen fixation, offering a scalable pathway for sustainable ammonia production. The results underscore the importance of multi‐component synergy in overcoming kinetic barriers, opening new avenues for energy‐efficient alternatives to conventional synthesis methods.

Electron
Central South University (CN), Changsha University (CN), Middle East Technical University (TR), University of Balochistan (PK), Sardar Bahadur Khan Women's University (PK), King Khalid University (SA), Jazan University (SA)
Openalex Percentile: Top 37%
Ammonia Synthesis and Nitrogen Reduction
AI Navigator

Ask Laika to Summarize, Analyze, and Connect papers live on the map.

Summarize Papers & Methodologies

Extract key findings, datasets, and comparative methods across publications.

Benchmark Rankings & Visual Analytics

Rank top research institutions, authors, funders, topics, and journals by Field-Weighted Citation Impact (FWCI) and paper volume with instant charts.

Connect Distant Disciplines

Bridge topological clusters on the map to find hidden collaborative intersections.

Laika access coming soon