Photoelectrochemical driving and clean synthesis of energetic salts of 5,5′-azotetrazolate at room temperature

Abstract

A photoelectrochemical route with a W, Mo co-doped BiVO₄ film photoanode was exploited for the first time to drive the coupling reaction of 5-amino-1H-tetrazole at room temperature for clean synthesis of sodium 5,5′-azotetrazolate, a starting material commonly used for the synthesis of all other energetic salts of 5,5′-azotetrazolate. The coupling reaction was initiated with the photo-generated holes of the doped BiVO₄ at room temperature with stable faradaic efficiency higher than 80% at 1.2 V vs. RHE.