Researchers create clathrates using a salt-guanidinium sulfate to mimic methane hydrate activity, resulting in an energy-efficient way to contain greenhouse gases.
Researchers from King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), University of Science and Technology of China (USTC), and Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech) have developed a promising new method for carbon capture and storage.
Led by Professor Cafer T. Yavuz of KAUST, Prof. Bo Liu from USTC, and Prof. Qiang Xu of SUSTech, the team has successfully created lattice-like structures called clathrates using a salt-guanidinium sulfate.
These clathrates mimic the activity of methane hydrate, effectively trapping carbon dioxide molecules and resulting in an energy-efficient way to contain greenhouse gases.
Previous carbon capture methods, such as chemisorption, have been costly due to the energy required to break down chemical bonds between CO2 molecules and the surface.
However, the new salt-based clathrate structure utilizes low-energy physisorption processes while capturing CO2 without water or nitrogen interference, offering a promising venue for future carbon capture and storage technologies.
The clathrate structure can store and transport carbon dioxide as a solid powder, allowing CO2 to be carried without refrigeration or pressure, making it the least energy-intensive method with significant potential for real-life applications.
The research team is optimistic that their findings will lead to further improvements in CO2 capture in terms of stability, recyclability, sorption capacity and selectivity, and lowering regeneration energy penalty and cost.
The discovery could have a significant impact on the fight against climate change, enabling energy-efficient carbon capture and storage. The research findings have been published in the journal Cell Reports Physical Science.