Optimization of the surface sites of CuPc/Ce-MOF for boosting photoelectrochemical ammonia production

Photoelectrochemical reduction of nitrate (PEC NRR) to ammonia (NH 3 ) is a promising means with water as hydrogen source under room temperature. The construction of photoelectrode with efficient light response and reaction kinetics is the core point to achieve high NH 3 yield efficiency. Herein, a cerium-based metal organic framework (Ce-MOF) was successfully decorated on the copper phthalocyanine (CuPc). The CuPc/Ce-MOF heterostructure exhibits the ideal nitrate catalytic reduction activity, and the NH 3 yield (−0.6 V versus RHE) increases to 1.58 μ g h − 1 cm − 2 from 0.67 μ g h − 1 cm − 2 (CuPc). Besides, the cycle experiments reveal that the CuPc/Ce-MOF heterostructure has maintained good catalytic stability. This work explores the PEC NRR process mechanism of CuPc/Ce-MOF samples and provides a new idea for green NH 3 production.