Revisiting the reactivity of carbon dioxide: from physical and chemical properties to reactive carbon capture.

Abstract

The commonly believed low chemical reactivity of CO2 is misguiding, considering the high electrophilicity of Csp of CO2, the seemingly omnipresent photosynthetic C-C bond formation, and the enzymatic hydrolysis of CO2 to form carbonic acid on the surface of water. Here, we discuss the electrophilic reactivity and thermodynamic stability of CO2 under standardized conditions to shed light on the properties of CO2 that can be relevant in applications. This is particularly important to guide and rationalize new technologies of carbon capture and, more importantly, for utilization by understanding physical and chemical parameters that matter. This tutorial review, therefore, illustrates how to revisit the reactivity of CO2 from the perspective of its utility for developing suitable solutions for carbon capture and utilization, particularly for the concept of reactive capture of CO2, based on the available thermodynamic and kinetic data in recent literature.