Tailored Dynamic Seesaw Configuration of Heterojunctions to Enhance Piezo-Photocatalytic Overall Nitrogen Fixation.

Abstract

Relay overall nitrogen fixation presents an intriguing approach to the simultaneous production of nitric acid and ammonia. However, it remains a significant challenge due to manipulating dual active sites on both temporal and spatial mesoscopic scales. In this study, we propose a bionic seesaw Bi₄O₅Cl₂-Bi₄O₅Br₂ heterojunction, which establishes a one-way reaction channel through the entanglement effect, challenging the inherent idea of synchronous reaction in a heterojunction. Notably, the adaptive interface functions as a fulcrum by incorporating both tensile Bi-Cl bonds and compressive Bi-Br bonds while also inducing the localized surface lattice distortion of Bi-O to sequentially activate the active sites. Therefore, unsaturated sites and dynamic properties trigger the seesaw structure to enhance both charge exchange and molecular polarization of N₂ during reduction, thereby creating a hydroxy-rich environment for the ammonia oxidation process. Our work offers a novel active site control perspective and clarifies nitrogen fixation processes.