Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Letter
  • Published:

Photocatalytically induced fixation of molecular nitrogen by near UV radiation

Abstract

A MAJOR method whereby molecular nitrogen is fixed in the soil is through microorganisms1. Recently, however, molecular nitrogen has been shown2 to react with water vapour in the presence of TiO2 under the stimulus of near UV radiation to produce ammonia and hydrazine according to the photoreducing reactions summarised as: We report here the results of some recent experiments in which molecular nitrogen has been fixed, at room temperaure in oxidising conditions, on the surface of rutile (TiO2) by low-energy UV photons.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Jones, K. in Comprehensive Inorganic Chemistry, Vol. 2, Ch. 19 (ed. Trotman-Dickenson. A. F.) (Pergamon, Oxford, 1973).

    Google Scholar 

  2. Schrauzer, G. N. & Guth, T. D. J. Am. chem. Soc. 99, 7189 (1977).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Bickley, R. I. & Stone, F. S. J. Catal. 31, 389 (1973).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Meriaudeau, P. & Vedrine, J. C. JCS Faraday I, 72, 472 (1976).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Voltz, H. G., Kämpf, G. & Fitzky, M. G. Farbe & Lack 78, 1037 (1972).

    Google Scholar 

  6. Benson, S. W. Thermochemical Kinetics (Wiley, New York, 1968).

    Google Scholar 

  7. Bickley, R. I. & Vishwanathan, V. JCS Faraday I (to be submitted).

  8. Bickley, R. I. Chemical Physics of Solids and their Surfaces, Vol. 7 (Chemical Society, London, 1978).

    Google Scholar 

  9. Maclean, W. & Ritchie, M. J. appl. Chem. 15, 452 (1965).

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

BICKLEY, R., VISHWANATHAN, V. Photocatalytically induced fixation of molecular nitrogen by near UV radiation. Nature 280, 306–308 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1038/280306a0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/280306a0

This article is cited by

Comments

By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.

Search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing