Light-driven CO2 capture with photoacids: from concept to scalable technology
Abstract
Scalable and affordable CO2 capture is needed to meet climate goals, prompting exploration of approaches beyond thermally and electrically driven ones. Light-driven CO2 capture uses photoacid molecules that enable CO2 sorbent regeneration under illumination, expanding the energy input basis available for carbon capture. Here, we combine bench-scale experiments with process modeling to identify the molecular and process conditions required to scale up light-driven CO2 capture. We reveal that raising a photoacid concentration in the liquid sorbent above 0.15 M would enable >90% CO2 recovery and reduce the electricity demand by at least an order of magnitude compared to a state-of-the-art amine-based CO2 capture process from a cement plant. This performance gain highlights the promise of light-driven CO2 capture. We also reveal key objectives for further research: improving photoacid solubility, pKa and stability to achieve target CO2 sorption capacities and long-term cyclability, as well as optimizing the overall process to efficiently handle practical CO2 streams. These findings provide a roadmap for advancing light-driven CO2 capture from proof of concept towards a scalable carbon management technology.
Authors 8
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Affiliation as printed
ETH Zurich
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Affiliation as printed
ETH Zurich
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Affiliation as printed
ETH Zurich
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Affiliation as printed
ETH Zurich
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Hendrik Schricker Aachen
Affiliation as printed
RWTH Aachen University
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Affiliation as printed
ETH Zurich
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Affiliation as printed
ETH Zurich
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Affiliation as printed
ETH Zurich
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