Green synthesis of cyclic carbonates: ZnV2O6@Bi2WO6 nanocomposite photocatalyst for efficient CO2 epoxidation

Abstract

The present levels of CO₂ emission in the atmosphere require the development of technologies to achieve carbon neutrality using inexpensive processes. Conversion of CO₂ into cyclic carbonates is one of the solutions to this problem. Here, we synthesized a ZnV₂O₆/Bi₂WO₆ nanocomposite and catalyzed the cycloaddition of CO₂ to epoxides for the green synthesis of cyclic carbonates under visible light irradiation. The present nanocomposite photocatalyst exhibited up to 96 % yield of cyclic carbonates. The photocatalyst was found to be efficient for photocatalytic cycloaddition reactions, and the recovered photocatalyst showed stability in up to five consecutive photocatalytic experiments. The current methodology of cyclic carbonate production is a significant step toward the mitigation of atmospheric CO₂ and can work well with the development of nanocomposite photocatalysts.