New carbon material releases carbon dioxide at 140°F, cuts energy use

Researchers at Chiba University in Japan have developed a novel carbon-based material called viciazite that can release captured carbon dioxide (CO2) at significantly lower temperatures—below 140°F (60°C)—compared to conventional systems that require temperatures above 212°F (100°C). This breakthrough addresses a major limitation in carbon capture technology, where the energy-intensive desorption step (releasing CO2) has hindered widespread adoption due to high operational costs. By precisely controlling the arrangement of nitrogen atoms within the carbon structure, the team created three versions of viciazite with distinct nitrogen configurations, two of which demonstrated superior CO2 capture performance, and one that excelled in low-temperature CO2 release. The researchers achieved this by introducing adjacent NH2 groups in the carbon material, enabling efficient CO2 desorption at lower heat levels, which could substantially reduce energy consumption and costs in industries such as power generation and manufacturing. Additionally, the study revealed that different nitrogen configurations influence the material’s durability