Publication date: 22nd July 2026
The catalytic conversion of carbon dioxide into value-added chemicals is an important pathway toward carbon utilization and circular economy. Organic carbonates are attractive products because of their applications as green solvents, battery electrolytes, polymer precursors, and intermediates in fine-chemical synthesis. However, the thermodynamic stability and low reactivity of CO₂ require catalysts that combine high activity, selectivity, stability and low environmental impact. This work investigates the engineering design of sustainable catalysts for the conversion of CO₂ into cyclic and linear organic carbonates. Particular emphasis is placed on metal–organic frameworks (MOFs), hydrotalcite-like compounds (HTLCs) and oxide-based catalysts because of their tunable structures, accessible active sites and adjustable acid–base properties. The study focuses on the relationships among catalyst composition, active-site structure, surface acidity and basicity, pore characteristics and reaction performance. Particular attention is also given to catalysts based on earth-abundant and low-toxicity materials together with or without together solvent under mild operating conditions. Catalyst activity, product selectivity, recyclability and resistance to deactivation are evaluated to identify the main factors controlling CO₂ activation and carbonate formation [1].
The results show the importance of tailoring active-site environments and catalyst structures to improve reaction efficiency and selectivity. MOFs offer high surface areas and well-defined coordination environments, HTLC-derived materials provide tunable acid–base functionality, and mixed-metal oxides offer high thermal stability and practical recyclability. Integrating catalyst design with mechanistic understanding and process optimization provides a promising route toward scalable and energy-efficient CO₂ valorization. This work contributes to the development of more sustainable catalytic systems for producing organic carbonates while reducing reliance on fossil-derived carbon resources.
The Slovenian Research Agency funded this study through the “Chemistry for Sustainable Development” program (P1-0134). Support from the Horizon Europe project FlowCat (Grant No. 101160108) is also gratefully acknowledged.
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