One-Step Direct Fixation of Atmospheric CO₂ by Si-H Surface in Solution

The efficient conversion of carbon dioxide (CO₂) into useful chemicals has important practical significance for environmental protection. Until now, direct fixation of atmospheric CO₂ needs first extraction from the atmosphere, an energy-intensive process. Silicon (or Si-H surface), Earth-abundant, low-cost and non-toxic, is a promising material for heterogeneous CO₂ chemical fixation. Here we report one-step fixing of CO₂ directly from the atmosphere to a paraformaldehyde-like polymer by Si-H surface at room temperature. With the assistance of HF, commercial silicon powder was used as a heterogeneous reducing agent, for converting gaseous CO₂ to a polymer of fluorine substituted polyoxymethylene and hydroxyl substituted polyoxymethylene alternating copolymer (F-POM). Making use of the Si-H surface toward the fixation of atmospheric gaseous CO₂ is a conceptually distinct and commercially interesting strategy for making useful chemicals and environmental protection.