Towards green chemistry from transformation of carbon dioxide and dinitrogen to value-added chemicals and fuels.

Abstract

The urgent need for sustainable chemical processes has driven the exploration of carbon dioxide (CO₂) and dinitrogen (N₂) as abundant, renewable feedstocks for producing value-added chemicals and fuels. This review focuses on the transformation of CO₂ and N₂, highlighting their significance in green chemistry. We begin by discussing the fundamental principles of green chemistry and the advantages of utilizing CO₂ and N₂ to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions and reduce reliance on fossil resources. Subsequently, the review examines advanced transformation pathways for CO₂ conversion, including electrocatalytic reduction, photocatalytic processes, and thermochemical transformations, evaluating their efficiency and scalability. The reduction of N₂ and nitrogen oxides (NO_x) to ammonia (NH₃) is explored, presenting innovative alternatives to the traditional Haber-Bosch process that offer improved energy efficiency and lower environmental impact. Furthermore, the synthesis of nitrogenous compounds beyond NH₃ is discussed, highlighting the versatility of green NH₃ in the production of diverse chemicals. A key focus is placed on integrating CO₂ and N₂ transformations through CN coupling reactions, enabling the direct formation of organic molecules with reduced environmental footprints. The review concludes by identifying current challenges and future directions, emphasizing the potential of catalytic technologies to foster a sustainable and resilient chemical industry.