Catalysts and methods for transformation of glycerol and a carbon feedstock, such as CO.sub.2, a carbonate salt or a bicarbonate salt, are described herein. Homogeneous catalysts include compounds of formula M[NHC-R-linker]aLbXc, where M is a transition metal, NHC is an N-heterocyclic carbene ligand, R is an alkyl or aryl group, linker is a polar group, L is a neutral ligand, X is an anionic ligand, a ranges from 1-3, b ranges from 0-3, and c ranges from 0-3. Heterogeneous catalysts include a solid support with a catalytically active compound immobilized on the solid support, where the catalytically active compound has the formula M[NHC-R-linker]aLbXc where M is a transition metal, NHC is an N-heterocyclic carbene ligand, R is an alkyl or aryl group; linker is a polar group, L is a neutral ligand, X is an anionic ligand, a ranges from 1-3, b ranges from 0-3, and c ranges from 0-3.

The synthesis, structure, and reactivity of a family of iridium-based molecular cluster complexes, including neutron and X-ray single-crystal diffraction measurements, are provided. It is found that one complex, which includes an Ir.sub.3H.sub.6(.sup.3H) trinuclear core, exhibits reactivity for reversible CO.sub.2 hydrogenation via hydride transfer. This reactivity is unlike previous reports of one known Ir.sub.3H.sub.6(.sup.3H) complex, which is inert.

Catalysts for the reduction of CO.sub.2 are described herein. More specifically, catalysts of Formula I and Formula II: ##STR00001##
wherein LB is a Lewis base; LA is a Lewis acid; R.sup.1 is selected from hydrogen, alkyl, substituted alkyl, cycloalkyl, substituted cycloalkyl, phenyl and substituted phenyl; and R.sup.9 and R.sup.10 are independently selected from alkyl, substituted alkyl, cycloalkyl, substituted cycloalkyl, phenyl and substituted phenyl; are described. A process for the production of methanol from CO.sub.2 using such catalysts is also described.

An electrocatalytic process for carbon dioxide conversion includes combining a Catalytically Active Element and a Helper Polymer in the presence of carbon dioxide, allowing a reaction to proceed to produce a reaction product, and applying electrical energy to said reaction to achieve electrochemical conversion of said carbon dioxide reactant to said reaction product. The Catalytically Active Element can be a metal in the form of supported or unsupported particles or flakes with an average size between 0.6 nm and 100 nm. The reaction products comprise at least one of CO, HCO.sup., H.sub.2CO, (HCO.sub.2).sup., H.sub.2CO.sub.2, CH.sub.3OH, CH.sub.4, C.sub.2H.sub.4, CH.sub.3CH.sub.2OH, CH.sub.3COO.sup., CH.sub.3COOH, C.sub.2H.sub.6, (COOH).sub.2, (COO.sup.).sub.2, and CF.sub.3COOH.

Provided herein is a process for producing a compound of formula (I), or a salt thereof: (I) catalyst. Also provided herein are catalysts which find use in the process.

##STR00001##

A catalytic carbon capture material is provided. The catalytic carbon capture material includes a microporous polymer including a Trger's base moiety, and a transition metal is coordinated within the microporous polymer. The catalytic carbon capture material selectively captures carbon dioxide (CO.sub.2) and also is a catalyst that simultaneously converts the captured carbon dioxide into one or more carbon dioxide-based products. A method of making the catalytic carbon capture material and a method of selective carbon dioxide capture and conversion are also provided.

The invention relates to a continuous method for producing formic acid from CO.sub.2 and extracting the formic acid using compressed CO.sub.2.

An electrocatalytic process for carbon dioxide conversion includes combining a Catalytically Active Element and Helper Catalyst in the presence of carbon dioxide, allowing a reaction to proceed to produce a reaction product, and applying electrical energy to said reaction to achieve electrochemical conversion of said reactant to said reaction product. The Catalytically Active Element can be a metal in the form of supported or unsupported particles or flakes with an average size between 0.6 nm and 100 nm. the reaction products comprise at least one of CO, HCO.sup., H.sub.2CO, (HCO.sub.2).sup., H.sub.2CO.sub.2, CH.sub.3OH, CH.sub.4, C.sub.2H.sub.4, CH.sub.3CH.sub.2OH, CH.sub.3COO.sup., CH.sub.3COOH, C.sub.2H.sub.6, (COOH).sub.2, (COO.sup.).sub.2, and CF.sub.3COOH.

Novel complexes of various earth-abundant, inexpensive transition or main group metals that facilitate the transformation of carbon dioxide into other more useful organic products. These complexes can bind and alter the CO.sub.2 at mild conditions of temperature and pressure, enabling, according to some embodiments, the electrochemical conversion of CO.sub.2 into new products.

An ionic liquid functionalized reduced graphite oxide (IL-RGO)/TiO.sub.2 nanocomposite was synthesized and used to reduce CO.sub.2 to a hydrocarbon in the presence of H.sub.2O vapor.