Using　solar　energy　instead　of　traditional　steam　energy　could　be　a　promising　strategy　for　saving　the　CO2　capture　energy　consumption.　Here　we　report　solar　triggered　efficient　CO2　release　from　a　mussel-inspired　CO2　capture　solvent.　Crosslinking　polyethyleneimine　and　polydopamine　by　the　self-polymerization　was　applied　to　capture　CO2　and　efficiently　release　CO2　by　photoirradiation.　CO2　absorption　rate　was　improved　by　increasing　the　dopamine　content　in　the　crosslinked　polymer.　Furthermore,　CO2　desorption　rate　increased　with　a　moderate　increase　in　the　dopamine　content.　Polymer　nanoparticles　were　formed　by　tailoring　the　concentration　of　aqueous　ammonia　and　dopamine,　which　can　be　used　to　enhance　the　light　absorbability　and　thus　the　CO2　desorption　rate.　A　higher　average　CO2　regeneration　efficiency　of　93.4%　can　be　reached　via　five　absorption–desorption　cycles,　indicating　that　it　is　a　promising　strategy　to　greatly　save　the　CO2　capture　energy　consumption.　©　2021　Elsevier　B.V.