A Green and Sustainable Cobalt-Based Nanocatalyst for CO2 Fixation

The efficient utilization of anthropogenic carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere to produce valuable chemicals is one of the most important pathways for reducing its impact on global warming. Heterogeneous catalysts can play a major role in this regard. Herein, we employed cellulose as a source of carbon that was doped with nitrogen for the distribution of highly active cobalt nanoparticles (Co NPs) to produce a Co-based N-doped cellulosic-carbon supported nanocatalyst (Co-NC). The physicochemical analysis of Co-NC confirms the fabrication of finely distributed Co NPs on cellulosic-carbon support. The nitrogen and oxygen present on the heterogeneous support are majorly responsible for the anchoring of Co NPs. The Co-NC nanocatalyst was investigated for its catalytic activity in CO2 utilization through the synthesis of cyclic carbonates, and the findings revealed that the nanocatalyst exhibited a high degree of activity. Also, the Co-NC nanocatalyst could catalyze the reaction till seven recycles without considerable decrease in the catalytic activity.