Research Projects

The increasing global energy demand has led to a growing interest in green and sustainable methods for chemical synthesis and alternative energy technologies. Ammonia (NH₃) is produced on a large scale worldwide, consuming 1-2% of global energy annually. NH₃ is used in various industries, including fertilizer, pharmaceutical, synthetic fibers, and dye industries. The Bosch-Haber process, which requires high temperature and pressure, releases CO₂ into the atmosphere. To mitigate environmental hazards, alternative green approaches are needed. Photocatalytic nitrogen fixation has emerged as a greener method for NH₃ synthesis, using renewable solar energy to convert chemical energy. This project proposes the design and fabrication of defect-engineered perovskite oxide-based photocatalysts (MgTiO₃, BaTiO₃, and NiTiO₃) for N₂ fixation. The defects, such as oxygen vacancies, will act as catalytic sites for N₂ gas chemisorption and activation. The co-catalytic effect of MXenes (Ti₃C₂, V₂C, and Mo₂C) will also be studied. The best photocatalyst will be explored for gram-scale and pilot-scale reactions for green NH₃ production.