Triazine and urea constructed polyurea microsphere as a promising catalyst for CO2 conversion to cyclic carbonates

Synthesizing high-value-added products through the chemical conversion of CO2 offers not only environmental benefits but also the potential for significant economic value. The development of practical catalyst is paramount to advancing CO2 conversion and the synthesis of high-value chemicals. In this context, we present the fabrication of triazine and urea-constructed polyurea microsphere (TUC-PUMS) as a promising catalyst for converting CO2 into cyclic carbonates using an enhanced dispersion polymerization method. Microscopic observations reveal that TUC-PUMS manifest as uniform microspheres with diameters ranging from 2 to 8 mu m, suitable size for suspended bed or fluidized bed. Analytical techniques such as Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), 13C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD) spectra confirm the chemical structure of TUC-PUMS. By integrating triazine and urea groups, TUC-PUMS exhibits excellent catalytic activity for CO2 conversion into cyclic carbonates under mild conditions when combined with tetrabutylammonium iodide. The achieved yield and selectivity approach 100 %, as well as excellent stability and versatility. The simultaneous integration of multiple functional groups, coupled with precise control over spherical morphology and microscopic size, enhances the competitiveness of TUC-PUMS as a promising catalyst for CO2 conversion.