Researchers at the University of California, Berkeley, have synthesised a new material , COF, that can capture carbon dioxide from air and remains both chemically and thermally stable even after cycles of capture and regeneration.
COF is a deep yellow porous compound that can absorb carbon dioxide directly from the air at significant quantities. Removing carbon dioxide directly from the air is increasingly likely to be relied on as a tool to tackle the climate crisis as countries delay action to cut emissions. To try to overcome some of the shortfalls of existing carbon capture materials, the researchers turned to the design principles of reticular chemistry.
The porous crystalline covalentโorganic framework COF they made was modified to produce polyamines within the pore that are covalently bonded to the framework, preventing them being lost during capture and regeneration cycles.
Yaghi notes that COFs are more stable than the previous material class he developed, metalโorganic frameworks MOFs , that are being used in pilot projects to capture carbon from cement plants. At such a low temperature, says Yaghi, waste heat โ for example from a power station โ could provide the necessary energy.
However, Yaghi says that his research student, Zihui Zhou, is already close to doubling the capture capacity of COF under laboratory conditions, by modifying the material.
