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Catalytic nitrogen fixation using visible light energy

Author

Listed:
  • Yuya Ashida

    (The University of Tokyo)

  • Yuto Onozuka

    (The University of Tokyo)

  • Kazuya Arashiba

    (The University of Tokyo)

  • Asuka Konomi

    (Kyushu University)

  • Hiromasa Tanaka

    (Daido University)

  • Shogo Kuriyama

    (The University of Tokyo)

  • Yasuomi Yamazaki

    (The University of Tokyo)

  • Kazunari Yoshizawa

    (Kyushu University)

  • Yoshiaki Nishibayashi

    (The University of Tokyo)

Abstract

The synthesis of ammonia from atmospheric dinitrogen, nitrogen fixation, is one of the essential reactions for human beings. Because the current industrial nitrogen fixation depends on dihydrogen produced from fossil fuels as raw material, the development of a nitrogen fixation reaction that relies on the energy provided by renewable energy, such as visible light, is an important research goal from the viewpoint of sustainable chemistry. Herein, we establish an iridium- and molybdenum-catalysed process for synthesizing ammonia from dinitrogen under ambient reaction conditions and visible light irradiation. In this reaction system, iridium complexes and molybdenum triiodide complexes bearing N-heterocyclic carbene-based pincer ligands act as cooperative catalysts to activate 9,10-dihydroacridine and dinitrogen, respectively. The reaction of dinitrogen with 9,10-dihydroacridine is not thermodynamically favoured, and it only takes place under visible light irradiation. Therefore, the described reaction system is one that affords visible light energy–driven ammonia formation from dinitrogen catalytically.

Suggested Citation

  • Yuya Ashida & Yuto Onozuka & Kazuya Arashiba & Asuka Konomi & Hiromasa Tanaka & Shogo Kuriyama & Yasuomi Yamazaki & Kazunari Yoshizawa & Yoshiaki Nishibayashi, 2022. "Catalytic nitrogen fixation using visible light energy," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-8, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:13:y:2022:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-022-34984-1
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-34984-1
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Yuya Ashida & Kazuya Arashiba & Kazunari Nakajima & Yoshiaki Nishibayashi, 2019. "Molybdenum-catalysed ammonia production with samarium diiodide and alcohols or water," Nature, Nature, vol. 568(7753), pages 536-540, April.
    2. Yasuhiro Ohki & Kenichiro Munakata & Yuto Matsuoka & Ryota Hara & Mami Kachi & Keisuke Uchida & Mizuki Tada & Roger E. Cramer & W. M. C. Sameera & Tsutomu Takayama & Yoichi Sakai & Shogo Kuriyama & Yo, 2022. "Nitrogen reduction by the Fe sites of synthetic [Mo3S4Fe] cubes," Nature, Nature, vol. 607(7917), pages 86-90, July.
    3. Aya Eizawa & Kazuya Arashiba & Hiromasa Tanaka & Shogo Kuriyama & Yuki Matsuo & Kazunari Nakajima & Kazunari Yoshizawa & Yoshiaki Nishibayashi, 2017. "Remarkable catalytic activity of dinitrogen-bridged dimolybdenum complexes bearing NHC-based PCP-pincer ligands toward nitrogen fixation," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 8(1), pages 1-12, April.
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