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 °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 °C under an inert N₂ 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.