Their catalytic process, described in the journal Nature, is another step toward a circular economy that reduces plastic waste and supports environmental sustainability.
The paper describes a closed-loop platform for producing a class of new materials from inexpensive carbon dioxide. The process uses a chemical reaction to combine carbon dioxide with a reactive molecule called bicycloalkane. An organic catalyst initiates this reaction to form new chemical bonds in the product structure. This results in durable and customizable synthetic plastics that are highly stable, meaning they can withstand stress from heat or attack from chemicals. The new material also features sought-after characteristics, such as high mechanical strength and flexibility. Crucially, the foundational building blocks of these new plastics can be recovered through recycling after their end use, as well.
