Conversion of CO2 into cyclic carbonate catalyzed by an N-doped mesoporous carbon catalyst

Abstract

N-Doped mesoporous carbon spheres (N-MCSs) had been synthesized through a dissolve–reassemble pathway using ammonium hydroxide as both the nitrogen source and base catalyst. The BET surface area and pore volume of the N-MCSs were measured to be 1341 m² g⁻¹ and 1.47 cm³ g⁻¹, respectively. The analysis results of XPS and CO₂-TPD indicated that the N element was successfully doped in the carbon matrix and provided basic sites to the N-MCSs. It was an effective, mono-component, halogen- and metal-free catalyst for the cycloaddition of CO₂ with epichlorohydrin, and the TOF could reach 236 h⁻¹. The high catalytic activity of N-MCS800 was ascribed to the synergistic effect of the specific surface area and pyridine nitrogen. More importantly, N-MCS materials had good stability and reusability.