Photobiocatalytic conversion of solar energy to NH₃ from N₂ and H₂O under ambient condition

NH3 is an important chemical fertilizer and expecting as H2 carrier. Several methods have been investigated for eco-friendly NH3 production under mild conditions instead of Haber-Bosch process using 400 degrees C, 20 MPa. Here, cyanobacterial Anabaena variabilis was utilized as a nitrogenase-producing biocatalyst that converts N2/H2O to NH3 under ambient conditions. Biocatalytic reactions revealed that MV center dot+ can penetrate cell membrane and transfer electrons generated in inorganic photocatalyst. We first reported photobiocatalytic NH3 production of cyanobacteria and TiO2. Comparing with natural system, NH3 formation rate of the hybrid system increased 81.3 times with an initial rate of 2031.7 nmol & sdot;h-1 and turnover number of 216.8.