Synchrotron X-Ray-Driven Nitrogen Reduction on an AgCu Thin Film

Authors：Hui, Jian; Hu, Qingyun; Zhuang, Genmao; Hu, Wenhui; Yu, Jin; Liu, Yuzi; Li, Tianyi; Fan, Longlong; Huang, Jier; Wang, Xun-Li; Zhang, Xiaoyi^*; Ren, Yang^*; Wang, Hong^*

Source：Small, 2022, 18(26): 2202720.

DOI：10.1002/smll.202202720

• AgNO
• (3)
• nitrogen reduction
• synchrotron X-ray
• thin-film

Nitrogen (N-2) is an essential element for life, but kinetically stable N-2 in the atmosphere needs to be reduced to biologically available forms as a nutrient for organisms. Abiotic nitrogen fixation is critical to the origin of life on the early Earth, which is due to lightning or mineral-based reduction. Here, synchrotron X-ray-induced silver nitrate formation on a silver copper (AgCu) thin-film is reported. Time-resolved X-ray diffraction measurements show that under intense X-ray exposure, initially formed silver oxides (AgOx) are quickly converted to silver nitrate (AgNO3). Interestingly, AgNO3 is first formed in its high-temperature phase with a space group of R3cH, which gradually transforms to the room temperature phase with a space group of Pbca under continuous X-ray irradiation. The result not only provides a new clue about the abiotic nitrogen reduction prior to life but also demonstrates a novel strategy of materials synthesis using synchrotron X-rays.

• Institution
  y; 上海交通大学; 中国科学院; 中国社会科学院