<p>The polymer industry is confronting an urgent sustainability trilemma: accelerating plastic pollution, substantial CO<sub>2</sub> emissions from production processes, and dependence on diminishing fossil resources. Upcycling CO<sub>2</sub> into polymers presents a promising solution to these interconnected issues; however, existing CO<sub>2</sub>-to-polymer technologies face significant challenges: dependence on concentrated CO<sub>2</sub> sources rather than direct air capture (DAC), reliance on complex catalysts and energy-intensive conditions (elevated temperatures/pressures), and generation of polymers with limited self-healing and recyclability. Herein, we propose a catalyst-free strategy of converting atmospheric CO<sub>2</sub> into carbonate ions (CO<sub>3</sub><sup>2-</sup>) as intermediates for the synthesis of dynamic covalent polymers. This approach is based on a dynamic bond system, termed the CO<sub>3</sub><sup>2-</sup>-bridged dynamic covalent bond, enabling catalyst-free synthesis of polymers from ambient air at room temperature and pressure. The resultant polymers show excellent mechanical properties, rapid self-healing, and versatile circularity through three distinct pathways: thermal reprocessing, closed-loop chemical recycling via acid-triggered depolymerization at room temperature, and upcycling of mixed CO<sub>2</sub>-derived polymers into hybrid materials with enhanced properties. This study provides a platform for both low-energy-consuming CO<sub>2</sub> valorization and the development of sustainable polymers.</p>

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Upcycling of atmospheric CO2 to self-healing recyclable polymers under ambient conditions

  • Xiaoyue Zeng,
  • Shiguang Zhang,
  • Huiya Li,
  • Chun Liu,
  • Liang Chen

摘要

The polymer industry is confronting an urgent sustainability trilemma: accelerating plastic pollution, substantial CO2 emissions from production processes, and dependence on diminishing fossil resources. Upcycling CO2 into polymers presents a promising solution to these interconnected issues; however, existing CO2-to-polymer technologies face significant challenges: dependence on concentrated CO2 sources rather than direct air capture (DAC), reliance on complex catalysts and energy-intensive conditions (elevated temperatures/pressures), and generation of polymers with limited self-healing and recyclability. Herein, we propose a catalyst-free strategy of converting atmospheric CO2 into carbonate ions (CO32-) as intermediates for the synthesis of dynamic covalent polymers. This approach is based on a dynamic bond system, termed the CO32--bridged dynamic covalent bond, enabling catalyst-free synthesis of polymers from ambient air at room temperature and pressure. The resultant polymers show excellent mechanical properties, rapid self-healing, and versatile circularity through three distinct pathways: thermal reprocessing, closed-loop chemical recycling via acid-triggered depolymerization at room temperature, and upcycling of mixed CO2-derived polymers into hybrid materials with enhanced properties. This study provides a platform for both low-energy-consuming CO2 valorization and the development of sustainable polymers.