Electrochemically initiated synthesis of ethylene carbonate from CO₂

Electrochemical methods have emerged as crucial strategies in the pursuit of achieving net-zero emissions, addressing key objectives such as hydrogen production, CO₂ capture and CO₂ conversion. Here we propose an electrochemically initiated process that integrates these three tasks while producing valuable industrial chemicals, such as hydrogen, ethylene carbonate and urethane polymers. In this approach, CO₂, ethylene and water are transformed into ethylene carbonate and hydrogen, and the key to enabling this transformation is the discovery that CO₂, captured as sodium bicarbonate, can be utilized in organic carbonate synthesis in an aqueous solution. Importantly, this transformation is mediated by succinimide, an organic catalyst that interacts with protons, bromine and CO₂ throughout this process. Technoeconomic analysis and life-cycle assessment of a commercial-scale process based on our proposed reaction pathway reveals its profitability and environmental viability. In the future, this approach could be generalized for the synthesis of various organic carbonates, with implications for producing lithium battery electrolytes, carbonate polymers and non-isocyanate urethane polymers.