CO2 capture, storage and utilization is judged critical to mitigate the rapid rise in the atmospheric CO2 concentration. A key problem is the gigantic mass of CO2 emitted, which asks for robust, efficient and economically viable approaches that are currently missing and limited by the lack of suitable materials. To break through this barrier, I aim to develop metal-free dual-function porous poly(ionic liquid)s (DPPs) to capture and convert CO2 under ambient conditions into cyclic carbonates with high efficiency, and to apply them in model reactors for cost-effective processing of CO2.
Poly(ionic liquid)s (PILs) are innovative ionic materials, in which ionic liquids (ILs) are covalently joined by a macromolecular backbone. ILs are known CO2-philes, and IL-derived PILs are naturally in favour of CO2 sorption, while their ions can be tailor-made for catalytic CO2 transformation. Such dual-function as sorbent and catalyst is the intrinsic merit of PILs to address the CO2 challenge, but unfortunately has been long impeded by the mismatched chemical structures in each function. Our preliminary work proved that the newly emerging 1,2,4-triazolium PILs were catalytic active and drastically more CO2-philic than common polyimidazoliums, and are believed as the game-changer materials. We envision that by structuring chemically tailor-made 1,2,4-triazolium PILs into highly porous materials, they will be able to capture and convert CO2 under ambient conditions. This ground-breaking materials concept will circumvent the complicated, harsh conditions for CO2 fixation, and cut the cost to an affordably low level.
This project will radically advance scientific knowledge and technology to fixate and convert CO2 at scale into value-added chemicals that further reduces the consumption of fossil resources. Its outcome will expedite the research in PILs and dual-function materials to revolutionize the CCU routes and equip us with powerful materials tools to mitigate the global CO2 rise.
