New solar-powered nanofiber filter captures carbon from vents

Researchers at the University of Chicago’s Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering have developed a novel solar-powered nanofiber direct air capture (DAC) filter designed to fit into standard building ventilation systems. This carbon nanofiber-based filter, made from a polyethylenimine (PEI) compound, can efficiently trap CO2 from indoor air while reducing energy consumption by limiting the need to heat or cool outside air. A life-cycle analysis indicates the filter maintains 92.1% efficiency even after accounting for manufacturing and disposal emissions. The technology offers significant scalability, with the potential to remove up to 596 megatonnes of CO2 annually if deployed across global building stock—equivalent to removing 130 million cars from the road—and could reduce electricity bills by over 21% for households and offices. Unlike traditional HEPA filters that require frequent replacement and disposal, these DAC filters are regenerable using solar-thermal heating, leveraging their strong solar absorptivity to enable CO2 release powered by