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A reversible reaction is constructed to absorb CO 2 in an industrial flue gas environment and release CO 2 for improved photosynthesis in plant growth to link industrial capture with agricultural applications. [Display omitted] • A good idea for achieving the goals of carbon neutrality and environmental protection through the utilization of CO 2. • A bridge linking industrial capture with agricultural application is built. • A reversible CO 2 storage system constructed using affordable and readily available sodium ricinoleate. Post-combustion CO 2 capture from the flue gas is one of the key technology options to limit global climate change, providing the prospect of permanently lowering the greenhouse gas CO 2 concentration, but the efficient use of captured CO 2 remains a challenge. In agriculture, the concentration of CO 2 in the air is far below the 0.1–1 % CO 2 concentration required for plant growth. Therefore, increasing the CO 2 concentration around plants can significantly increase crop yields. If a reversible reaction is constructed to absorb CO 2 in an industrial flue gas environment and release CO 2 under ambient temperature and pressure for improved photosynthesis in plant growth, a bridge may be built linking industrial capture with agricultural application. In this work, we prepared an environment-friendly aqueous system of sodium ricinoleate (NaRcn) to achieve reversible CO 2 absorption and release. The carboxylate group of the NaRcn becomes protonated upon the absorption of CO 2 in aqueous solutions to yield ricinoleic acid, which is marginally soluble in water, but dissolved in the emulsion formed by the unreacted NaRcn. Effective CO 2 release can be achieved by the shift of the absorption equilibrium caused by pressure changes under ambient temperature and pressure. The absorbed CO 2 in the NaRcn solutions was applied around the cotton leaves as a CO 2 fertilizer, which significantly increased plant growth and biomass formation, indicating potential applications as a fertilizer in agriculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The latest research progress of electrocatalytic Janus structural materials is discussed comprehensively. • The unique structural design, characteristics and various preparation methods of Janus electrocatalyst are deeply analyzed. • The precise control of the size of the active center and the in-depth exploration of the reaction mechanism are described. • It provides guidance for the rational design and preparation of Janus electrocatalyst. Electrocatalytical techniques are considered to be an efficient way for energy conversion and storage, which can alleviate the energy crisis and environmental pollution. Designing and synthesizing electrocatalysts with high catalytic activity and selectivity have become a research hotspot. Electrocatalytic materials with different chemical compositions or properties on both sides are called Janus electrocatalytic materials. Janus structured electrocatalysts have been widely studied by researchers due to their tunable structure and unique electrocatalytic properties in electrocatalytic applications. In this paper, the recent progress in structural design of Janus structural electrocatalysts is reviewed, including synthesis method, active center size, reaction mechanisms and the application on energy conversion. The advantages, challenges and prospects of Janus electrocatalysts are discussed deeply, which provides guidance for rational design and preparation of Janus electrocatalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]