Visualizing reaction pathway for the photo-transformation of NO 2 and N 2 into NO over WO 3 photocatalyst

A photo-transformation of NO2 into NO at the N2 presence is discovered over a WO3 photocatalyst under UV/visible light irradiation. During the photoreaction, we found that both NO2 and N2 disappear and additional NO appears at the same time. A reaction pathway is proposed and verified by the results of an online chemiluminesce NO x analyzer, GC-TCD, and in situ DRIFT monitoring of the reactants and products in mixtures. The collected data indicates that NO2 + ½ N2 → 2NO is an overall reaction of this photocatalytic reaction over a WO3 photocatalyst.