Production of nitrogen-doped graphite from carbon dioxide using polyaminoborane

Abstract

Nitrogen-doped graphite was prepared from gaseous carbon dioxide (CO2) under moderate conditions by polyaminoborane (PAB). This conversion was achieved in a two-step process: CO2 reacted with PAB under mild temperature (<115 degrees C) and low CO2 pressure (<3.10 MPa) to form a solid product containing formate (-OOCH), methoxy (-OCH3), and aliphatic groups; then pyrolysis of this solid product at temperatures up to 750 degrees C under an inert N-2 atmosphere produced a black carbon material. Raman spectroscopic and high-resolution scanning electron microscopic investigations confirmed the multi-layer graphitic structure of this carbon material. Incorporation of nitrogen atoms into the carbon lattice was further detected by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). This work presents the production of nitrogen-doped graphite from gaseous CO2 under mild conditions and provides one feasible option for CO2 capture and conversion at low costs.