Nitrogen Photofixation over III-Nitride Nanowires Assisted by Ruthenium Clusters of Low Atomicity

In many heterogeneous catalysts, the interaction of supported metal species with a matrix can alter the electronic and morphological properties of the metal and manipulate its catalytic properties. III-nitride semiconductors have a unique ability to stabilize ultra-small ruthenium (Ru) clusters (ca. 0.8 nm) at a high loading density up to 5 wt%. n-Type III-nitride nanowires decorated with Ru sub-nanoclusters offer controlled surface charge properties and exhibit superior UV- and visible-light photocatalytic activity for ammonia synthesis at ambient temperature. A metal/semiconductor interfacial Schottky junction with a 0.94 eV barrier height can greatly facilitate photogenerated electron transfer from III-nitrides to Ru, rendering Ru an electron sink that promotes N N bond cleavage, and thereby achieving low-temperature ammonia synthesis.