Mannitol and acidity co-tuned synthesis of oxygen-vacancy-modified bismuth molybdate nanorods for efficient photocatalytic nitrogen reduction to ammonia

Oxygen vacancies (Ovs) in semiconductors, which can adsorb and activate N2 molecules, are active sites for photocatalytic nitrogen reduction to ammonia. However, simple effective methods creating Ovs still need be explored. Herein, mannitol was used selectively create at Mo Bi2MoO6 (BMO) form BMO short nanorods (SNRs) through a hydrothermal process, with the Ov content, SNR size, surface area of sample effectively tuned by pH. SNRs containing most exhibit highest visible light absorption, fastest photoexcited charge separation, best fixation performance, an reaction rate pure water reaching approximately 107-fold that nanosheets synthesized absence mannitol, apparent quantum yield 2.78% 420 nm, superior all reported BMO-based photocatalysts. This work provides new method selective creation morphological tuning expedite reduction.