The invention relates to the field of environment-friendly organic synthesis, and aims to provide a preparation method and application of a catalyst for synthesizing dimethyl carbonate. The method comprises the following steps of: dissolving polycyano cobalt metal salt in de-ionized water, adding alcohol or water-soluble polymer and stirring until the materials are fully dissolved; dropwise adding zinc halide aqueous solution into the mixed solution, stirring, filtering and separating to obtain solid; dispersing the solid in water again; adding ammonia water or aqueous solution of alkali metal hydroxide, stirring to react, filtering and repeatedly washing to obtain solid filter cake; drying under vacuum; ball-milling; rebaking; and cooling to room temperature under a nitrogen condition to prepare a product. The catalyst provided by the invention has the advantages of simplicity in preparation, single composition, no need of extra addition of a large amount of carrier or auxiliary agent, less using amount of the catalyst in reaction, mild reaction conditions, high catalytic activity and selectivity of reaching 100 percent, suitability for industrial production, yield of the dimethyl carbonate of reaching over 50 percent, superior thermal stability and capability of being recycled.