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 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. 2025 Published by Elsevier Ltd.