Electrochemical CO₂ Fixation and Release Cycle for Direct Air Capture

A study conducted by Masakazu Murase et al., in collaboration with Toyota Physical and Chemical Research Institute was published in the Angewandte Chemie International Edition.

As the rise in average global temperatures is drawing attention as a global issue, reducing emissions of carbon dioxide (CO₂), a greenhouse gas, has become a global challenge. As one of the means to reduce CO₂ emissions, direct air capture (DAC) technology, which captures CO₂ directly from the atmosphere, has been actively researched, where various CO₂ absorbents and driving methods have been proposed. We have also promoted research into DAC technology by developing complex materials that rapidly absorb low concentrations of CO₂.

In this study, we developed a CO₂ capture system using a trinuclear zinc complex as a fixative and an electrochemical reaction as the driving force. By adopting an ionic liquid as the supporting electrolyte, we suppressed insoluble salt precipitation, ensuring stable and reversible CO₂ absorption and release. This system enables efficient capture of low-concentration CO₂ and controlled release under mild conditions. Our findings suggest that this electrochemical DAC system offers a promising and scalable approach to atmospheric CO₂ removal, contributing to the advancement and deployment of DAC technology.

Title: Electrochemical CO₂ Fixation and Release Cycle Featuring a Trinuclear Zinc Complex for Direct Air Capture
Authors: Murase, M., Sakamoto, N., Uyama, T., Nonaka, T., Ohashi, M., Sato, S., Arai, T., Itoh, T.
Journal Name: Angewandte Chemie International Edition
Published: November 28, 2024
https://doi.org/10.1002/anie.202420703