This review provides a comprehensive reflection of the recent advances in nanomaterials and processes for carbon dioxide (CO2) capture and conversion. It is divided into two sections: carbon capture, and conversion into useful by‐products. The latest developments in nanotechnology‐enabled carbon capture processes along with an overview of the conventional technologies for carbon capture are described. Descriptions of by‐product conversion include conversion into important chemicals, liquid fuels, and hydrocarbon such as carbonate, methane, methanol, and formic acid. Finally, perspectives on the future directions in carbon capture and storage technology are presented. © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd

We describe a simple drop-cast processing method to synthesize multicomponent polymer-based nanocomposites for carbon dioxide (CO2) capture and conversion into stable carbonates. These multicomponent nanocomposites are made of combination of different metal oxide nanoparticles and catalysts in a porous polymer matrix. The formulation includes the combination of titanium dioxide and magnesium oxide, ruthenium oxide, and iron oxide where each metal oxide exhibits its own catalytic function of trapping carbon dioxide. Such a material system provides numerous localized catalytically active hot reaction spots generated by the dispersed multifunctional oxide nanoparticles that react with CO2 when exposed to the gas stream and instantaneously convert the captured carbon into carbonates. Finally, we discuss our ongoing work on the possibility of converting captured-carbon-formed-carbonate into useful products/commodities such as methane, methanol and formic acid. The integration of polymer materials with catalytically active nanomaterials shows a promising strategy for CO2 capture and conversion into useful products towards achieving a sustainable energy future.

We present synthesis and characterization of multicomponent polymer‐based nanocomposites for carbon dioxide capture and conversion into stable carbonates. Using a simple drop‐casting method, several metal oxide nanoparticles were homogeneously mixed into a polymer matrix. Our formulation is based on the combination of metal oxide nanoparticles and photocatalysts, such as titanium dioxide, silicon dioxide, magnesium oxide, copper oxide, and iron oxide. In this formulation, each metal oxide exhibits its own catalytic function of trapping carbon dioxide. In a mixture with several of these inorganic components, the nanocomposites exhibit the characteristics from each, with a potential of displaying multifunctionality. The liquid phase of the polymer‐based nanocomposite enables it to be sprayed onto any surface that could potentially lead to large‐area carbon capture. The combination of low‐cost materials, easy large‐scale applications, and multifunctionality offers huge potential of these multicomponent nanocomposites for effective CO2 capture and conversion into stable carbonates and other useful by‐products. © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd

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