Publication date: 5th November 2025
Metal halide perovskites (MHP) have emerged as an apposite semiconductor material for various optoelectronic devices such as solar cells, photodetectors, capacitors, sensors etc. Despite the ample possibility, metal halide perovskites including bismuth have not been explored for NH3 production. We have utilized bismuth-based perovskites as an electrocatalyst for reduction of nitrate to ammonia. We report fabrication of methylammonium bismuth iodide ((CH3NH3)3Bi3I9) MABI) thin film directly on fluorine doped tin oxide (FTO) substrate and detailed structural, morphological and optical properties of the thin film reveal the formation of interconnected pure hexagonal structure with band gap of ~ 2.1 eV. The as-fabricated MABI thin film showed outstanding ammonia yield (27.53 µg mg⁻¹ h⁻¹) under atmospheric conditions with exceptional Faradic efficiency (40%). This work not only describes direct conversion of nitrate to ammonia under mild conditions employing lead-free non-toxic MABI but also, use of nitrate ions which are carcinogenic to human beings and major water pollutants as nitrogen source. Thus, in addition to green ammonia production this electrocatalytic process also paves the way to control nitrate pollution. The findings demonstrate the potential of hybrid halide bismuths in addressing the dual challenges of energy efficiency and environmental sustainability in nitrogen fixation. Future work focusing on the optimization of structural properties and scalability could further advance the practical applications of this material in green ammonia synthesis. This study paves the way for the exploration of novel lead-free perovskite materials in catalytic systems, contributing to the global shift towards sustainable chemical processes and a potential technology for low temperature, low pressure ammonia production.
SS acknowledges the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India, for funding under the DST Inspire Faculty Award (DST/INSPIRE/04/2021/000742).
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