The escalating global climate crisis demands the development of innovative and effective strategies to mitigate the accumulation of greenhouse gases, particularly carbon dioxide (CO2), in the atmosphere. While transitioning to renewable energy sources is crucial, exploring and implementing technologies that capture and sequester existing CO2 emissions is equally essential.
Traditional CO2 capture methods often involve energy-intensive processes and may have high operational costs. To address these limitations, a critical research focus lies in developing cost-effective, sustainable, and efficient solid sorbents for CO2 capture and storage. These materials should exhibit high CO2 adsorption capacities, rapid adsorption/desorption kinetics, and excellent stability and recyclability for long-term operation.
This research proposes a novel approach to CO2 capture by leveraging the synergistic properties of two promising materials:
By integrating carbon aerogels with molecularly imprinted polymers, this research aims to create a hybrid material that combines the high surface area and excellent mechanical properties of carbon aerogels with the selective CO2 binding capability of MIPs. This synergistic approach can potentially develop a high-performance CO2 capture system with enhanced adsorption capacity, selectivity, and recyclability, offering a promising solution for mitigating climate change and promoting a more sustainable future.
The research project will last two years until June 2025. The anticipated outcome is the development of highly efficient systems for effective CO2 sequestration with adsorption efficiency above 6.5 mmol/g at 1 bar pressure and 25 ºC. This would favorably impact sustainable development and contribute to a sustainable environment.
Three articles are in different stages of publication, and two patents are in progress.
