Redefining Energy-Efficient CO ₂ Capture through Catalysis–Solvent Synergy: A Mini-Review

Carbon capture is no longer a question of “if” but “how fast” it can scale. Among available options, thermal amine scrubbing remains the most deployable, yet its reboiler-dependent solvent regeneration imposes major capital and energy penalties. Catalytic regeneration and solvent innovation have lately emerged as promising solutions, but progress has largely occurred in isolation. This critical review identifies and defines catalysis-solvent synergy as the mechanism where next-generation solvents, such as water-lean or biphasic absorbents, actively lower the activation energy for catalytic carbamate cleavage. By shifting solvent regeneration from a purely thermal process to one governed by co-optimized catalysis and thermodynamics, this synergy enables CO2 desorption at temperatures below 90 °C. This approach facilitates the integration of electrified or low-grade renewable heat sources, bridging molecular reactivity with process-scale engineering to provide a roadmap for energy-efficient carbon capture.