Carbon dioxide (CO₂) and methane (CH₄) drive climate change by trapping heat in the atmosphere, intensifying the greenhouse effect and raising global temperatures. Materials that can capture and manage these key pollutants from air or industrial streams have the promise to reduce the harmful impacts of excess greenhouse gases. This work supports safer, more efficient operations by helping reduce harmful emissions and improving the performance of air- and gas-handling systems.
Research Project
Carbon Capture (CCUS and DACS)
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TRL 1–2
Technology Readiness Level
TRL 1–2 Early stages of innovation focused on foundational science and concept formation
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Molecular adsorption and remediation
Project Goals
Supporting pathways for CCUS and DACS
This project aims to make advances in materials for capturing and managing CO₂ and methane, with emphasis on performance, regeneration efficiency, and durability over repeated cycles. We support pathways relevant to CCUS (carbon capture, utilization, and storage) and DACS (direct air capture and storage) by evaluating candidates using adoption-relevant metrics—capacity, selectivity, cycling stability, and energy intensity for regeneration—under realistic gas compositions and operating conditions. The goal is to accelerate down-selection toward scalable solutions that align with partner constraints on safety, integration complexity, reliability, and cost.
Applications
- Post-Combustion Carbon Capture for Industrial Facilities: Advanced sorbent materials integrated into power plants, cement kilns, and steel facilities to selectively capture CO₂ from flue gas streams can reduce point-source emissions while minimizing regeneration energy penalties.
- Direct Air Capture (DAC) Systems: High-selectivity materials engineered to capture dilute CO₂ from ambient air under realistic humidity and temperature conditions can enable scalable negative-emissions infrastructure with improved cycling durability and lower energy intensity
- Methane Mitigation in Energy and Waste Systems: Selective capture materials deployed at oil & gas sites, landfills, and agricultural operations to intercept methane before atmospheric release can support rapid near-term climate impact reduction through methane management and utilization pathways
Project Status
- TRL 1–2: Early stages of innovation focused on foundational science and concept formation
Why it Matters
Advancing materials for CO₂ and methane capture is critical because these gases are the primary drivers of climate driven safety disasters, yet many emissions sources such as heavy industry, legacy energy systems, dispersed methane leaks, and even ambient air cannot be eliminated through electrification alone. High-performance, durable, and energy-efficient capture materials expand the practical reach of CCUS and DACS by lowering operating costs and energy use while improving reliability.
