Science Daily June 5, 2024
An international team of researchers (UK, Hong Kong, USA – Cornell University, Italy) introduced a new class of designer sorbent materials known as ‘charged-sorbents’. The materials were prepared through a battery-like charging process that accumulates ions in the pores of low-cost activated carbons, with the inserted ions then serving as sites for carbon dioxide adsorption. The charging process accumulated reactive hydroxide ions in the pores of a carbon electrode, and the resulting sorbent material could rapidly capture carbon dioxide from ambient air by means of (bi)carbonate formation. Unlike traditional bulk carbonates, charged-sorbent regeneration could be achieved at low temperatures (90–100 °C) and the sorbent’s conductive nature permitted direct Joule heating regeneration using renewable electricity. Given their highly tailorable pore environments and low cost, the researchers anticipate that charged sorbents will find numerous potential applications in chemical separations, catalysis and beyond… read more. Open Access TECHNICAL ARTICLEÂ
The preparation of charged sorbents. Credit: Nature, 05 June 2024