Bio-inspired ZIF-derived Co/N-doped carbon for efficient one-step CO₂ mineralization under ambient conditions

Efficient catalysts for carbon dioxide (CO₂) mineralization are crucial for advancing CO₂ capture, conversion, and utilization technologies aimed at mitigating global emissions. In this study, we report the first application of ZIF-67-derived Co/N-doped carbon (Co/NC) as a catalyst for CO₂ hydration and mineralization. Co/NC features well-defined cobalt–nitrogen (Co–N_x) motifs that efficiently catalyze the hydration of CO₂ to bicarbonate (HCO₃⁻) and facilitate the one-step formation of calcite (CaCO₃) during CO₂ mineralization. The catalyst demonstrates exceptional catalytic activity in the hydrolysis of 4-nitrophenyl acetate (4-NPA), with an initial rate (V₀) of 224.1 nM s⁻¹, a maximum rate (V_max) of 2908 nM s⁻¹, and a Michaelis-Menten constant (K_m) of 11.58 mM, surpassing most carbonic anhydrase (CA) mimics reported to date. Furthermore, Co/NC shows an impressive CO₂ sequestration performance, producing 69 mg of CaCO₃ within just two minutes at room temperature, demonstrating its effectiveness for CO₂ mineralization. The catalyst also exhibits remarkable reusability, retaining high catalytic performance across multiple cycles, as well as excellent thermal stability, ensuring long-term durability. These findings underscore the potential of Co/NC as an efficient and stable catalyst for CO₂ mineralization, offering promising applications in CO₂ capture, sequestration, and utilization technologies designed to mitigate climate change by reducing atmospheric CO₂ concentrations.