Recent progress in lanthanide-based photocatalysts for nitrogen fixation

Abstract

Photocatalytic nitrogen fixation technology uses solar energy to convert atmospheric N₂ into valuable ammonia, presenting a sustainable alternative to the energy-intensive Haber–Bosch process. Lanthanide elements (Ln), as key components for optimizing photocatalysts, have attracted considerable attention due to their unique physicochemical properties. This review comprehensively summarizes recent advances in Ln-based photocatalysts for nitrogen fixation. It begins by elaborating on the optical and electronic structural characteristics, upconversion properties, and reactive sites. This is followed by a systematic categorization of Ln-based photocatalysts, including lanthanide oxides, Ln-based metal–organic frameworks, Ln-based covalent organic frameworks, and Ln-based perovskites. Furthermore, the review elaborates on the application of Ln-modification strategies, including Ln doping, Ln single-atom loading, and lanthanide oxide composites, in the field of photocatalytic nitrogen fixation. Finally, the challenges and future prospects in this field are highlighted, aiming to provide insights for the design and development of efficient and sustainable photocatalytic systems for nitrogen fixation.