P7 Catalytic strategies for the conversion of CO2 into valuable products

Resumo

CO₂ capture and utilisation is a central research topic in the context of sustainability. The use of CO₂ feedstock is attractive not only in order to decrease the concentration of this greenhouse gas in the atmosphere but also because CO₂ is a non-toxic, inexpensive, widely-available, renewable and thus green C₁-feedstock. However, the conversion of CO₂ into useful products is a challenging target, due to the high thermodynamic stability of this molecule. There are two main strategies to overcome this limitation: (i) provide energy, e.g. in the form of electricity (electrochemical conversion); (2) react CO₂ with high free energy compounds (e.g. H₂, epoxides, amines). In both cases, a catalyst is essential to improve the kinetics of the process and achieve the efficient conversion of CO₂ into selected valuable products. In this presentation, you will hear about our recent research achievements in the context of CO₂ conversion, using different catalytic approaches ranging from homogeneous to heterogeneous catalysis and finally touching electrocatalysis. For the conversion of CO₂ into cyclic carbonates, we developed metal-free homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysts that enable the synthesis of the target products with high selectivity under mild conditions. The presentation will then delve into the conversion of CO₂ into polycarbonates using heterogeneous catalysts and the challenges of the upscaling of the production of these polymers towards industrial scale. Finally, you will hear about the growing area of electrocatalysis for the reduction of CO₂ into useful products, with a focus on formic acid synthesis.