Understanding and Improving Electrochemical Carbon Capture by Supercapacitors

我们目前面临着气候变化危机，迫切需要新的和改进的温室气体减排技术。二氧化碳捕获和储存是一项关键的温室气体缓解和清除战略，尽管目前基于胺的捕获技术的高昂成本限制了其广泛采用(图2)。该项目将探索一种新的节能二氧化碳捕获方法，其中超级电容器储能设备的充电可以实现选择性的二氧化碳吸附(图2)。该项目的总体目标是了解和改进使用超级电容器储能装置的电化学二氧化碳捕获。首先，我们将探索一系列不同结构的电极材料，以研究由此产生的对电化学二氧化碳捕获性能的影响。这些研究将与电化学碳捕获机制的光谱研究相辅相成，以提供对超级电容器电化学二氧化碳捕获的第一个分子水平的了解。从这项工作中得到的见解将被用于设计和合成性能更好的第二代电极材料。除了优化这些电极中发生的电吸附过程外，这些第二代电极还将寻求解决与这些电极中的电荷和气体传输相关的挑战。总体而言，这项工作将促进我们对电化学二氧化碳捕获的理解，并将直接导致可以减少温室气体排放的改进材料和设备。

We currently face a climate change crisis and urgently require new and improved technology for greenhouse gas mitigation. Carbon dioxide capture and storage is a key greenhouse gas mitigation and removal strategy, though the high cost of current amine based capture technology limits its widespread adoption (Figure 2). This project will explore an emerging approach for energy efficient carbon dioxide capture, where the charging of a supercapacitor energy storage device brings about selective CO2 adsorption (Figure 2). The overarching aim of this project is to understand and improve electrochemical carbon dioxide capture using supercapacitor energy storage devices. First, we will explore a range of electrode materials with different structures to investigate the resulting impact on electrochemical CO2 capture performance. These studies will be complemented by spectroscopic studies of the electrochemical carbon capture mechanisms to afford the first molecular level understanding of electrochemical carbon dioxide capture by supercapacitors. The insights from this work will then be used to design and synthesis Generation 2 electrode materials with improved performance. In addition to optimising the electrosorption processes taking place in these electrodes, these second generation electrodes will seek to address challenges associated with the transport of charges and gasses in these electrodes. Overall, this work will advance our understanding of electrochemical carbon dioxide capture and will directly lead to improved materials and devices that can mitigate greenhouse gas emissions.