【YNU International Symposium 2025】Lecture 3: Catalytic Strategies for CO₂ Utilization and C-H Bond Activation Toward Carbon Neutrality

YNU International Symposium 2025
“Innovations for a Carbon Neutral Tomorrow”

Lecture Title:
Catalytic Strategies for CO₂ Utilization and C-H Bond Activation Toward Carbon Neutrality

Lecturer:
Ken MOTOKURA, Dr.
Professor, Yokohama National University

Recycling end-of-life solar panels presents significant challenges due to the large volume of discarded panels. Among the composition of the solar panel, the recovery and reuse of silicon (Si) wafers have garnered increasing attention. In this study, the recycling of waste Si wafers is integrated with the catalytic conversion of CO₂ from the exhaust gas of a thermal power plant. The catalytic conversion of CO₂ using silicon wafers as a reducing agent produced formic acid and formamides in high yields. The direct functionalization of C–H bonds enables a streamlined synthetic process, minimizing byproduct formation. Bimetallic catalysts proved effective for activating inert bonds: RhRu and PdRu bimetallic oxide clusters successfully facilitated the acetoxylation and biaryl synthesis of benzene via C–H bond activation, employing molecular oxygen as the sole oxidant.