Highly Efficient Catalysts for Conversion of CO2 into Cyclic Carbonates Based on the Ternary Layered ZIF-8/P4VP/Au Hybrids

The P4VP with the molecular weight of 12 K and the molecular weight distribution of 1.2 was synthesized via reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer polymerization. Then it was added to the system for the preparation of ZIF-8 as a surfactant. A special two-dimensional (2D) sheet was produced because P4VP could promote the lateral growth of ZIF-8. Additionally, the pyridine group from P4VP chains could complex Au3+ followed by in-situ reduction under UV light to form the 2D ZIF-8/P4VP/Au ternary hybrids. The ternary layered ZIF-8/P4VP/Au hybrids exhibited a good yield for epoxy carbonate of 71 % and the high time-space yield of 3.22 h(-1) in the reaction of carbon dioxide with propylene oxide, which was much higher than 0.425 h(-1) of the conventional homogeneous catalyst KI. Besides, the ternary layered ZIF-8/P4VP/Au showed good stability, the catalytic performance was unchanged after three cycles.