Solar-driven all-in-one MOFs-based catalyst for highly efficient CO2 conversion

CO2 fixation and conversion are desirable to solve the exceeding CO2 emission. Traditional CO2 cycloaddition needs strict conditions, co-catalyst and solvent, causing energy intensive and complex recycle process. In this work, an integrated ionic polymers (IPs) and phosphomolybdate (PMo12) co-modified CuTCPPCo MOF all-in-one composite catalyst (PBPCT*) is designed for solar driven, solvent-free and co-catalyst-free CO2 cycloaddition. The PMo12 clusters and IPs offer abundant active sites for reactants activation and ring opening. The activation energy significantly decreases from 66.36 kJ.mol(-1) of CuTCPPCo MOF to 49.47 kJ.mol(-1) of PBPCT*, and guarantees higher efficient with 99.2% yield of styrene carbonate at 353 K for 12 h. The TOF of 580.73 h(-1) under light density of 0.8 W/cm(2) superior to traditional heating with TOF of 473.0 h(-1). This provides a new avenue to gather all the advantages in one catalyst, furnishing a promising approach for reducing CO2 emission and utilization.

Automated summary

In this study, a new catalyst was designed and synthesized for solar driven, solvent-free and co-catalyst-free CO2 cycloaddition, achieving high efficiency and high yield of styrene carbonate production. This provides a promising approach for reducing CO2 emission and utilization.