Researchers at the University of Virginia School of Engineering and Applied Science have achieved a significant breakthrough in the practical fabrication of a miracle material capable of extracting value from captured carbon dioxide. This innovation, led by chemical engineering assistant professor Gaurav “Gino” Giri’s lab group, holds promising implications for addressing the climate change crisis and meeting global energy demands.
The material in question, MOF-525, belongs to a class of substances known as metal-organic frameworks (MOFs). These materials possess remarkable properties due to their ultra-porous, crystalline structures, characterized by extensive internal surface areas resembling sponges, which can trap various chemical compounds.
Giri’s team focused on making MOFs suitable for large-scale applications, particularly in carbon capture and electrocatalytic conversion. By employing a scalable synthesis technique called solution shearing, the researchers aimed to enhance the feasibility of producing MOFs in significant quantities. This approach involves mixing the components of the MOF in a solution, which is then spread across a substrate using a shearing blade. As the solution evaporates, chemical linkages form a thin film of MOF on the substrate, creating an all-in-one membrane for carbon trapping and conversion.
Prince Verma, a Ph.D. graduate from Giri’s lab, emphasized the scalability of the process, stating, “The bigger the membrane, the more surface area you have for the reaction, and the more product you could get.”
The team demonstrated the effectiveness of their solution shearing approach in converting carbon dioxide into carbon monoxide, a valuable chemical used in various industries. Unlike traditional carbon capture methods, which entail storing carbon dioxide underground at a considerable cost, MOF-525 offers a more economically viable solution by catalyzing the conversion of carbon dioxide into a valuable product.
The findings of this groundbreaking research were published in the American Chemical Society journal Applied Materials and Interfaces, with contributions from various members of Giri’s lab group. This achievement represents a significant step forward in the quest for sustainable solutions to mitigate climate change and address global energy needs.
