Single atom solutions for carbon dioxide capture

J Chem Phys. 2023 Feb 28;158(8):084309. doi: 10.1063/5.0132627.

Abstract

New solvents are considered to be one of the effective methods to facilitate the reaction rate and lower the reaction energy barrier. However, the common method to develop a new solvent has come to a dead end. Thus, a single atom in solvent to produce a single atom solution is designed to create the breakthrough. Eight kinds of single atom solutions are prepared as new absorbents. Experiments prove the single atom in the solutions and their charge-producing effects. A density functional theory model is developed to analyze the microscale characteristics. Meanwhile, it has been applied in carbon dioxide capture. The CO2 desorption rate is intensified in the single atom solution system due to the controlled reaction energy barrier. The results show that single atom solutions produce a maximum voltage of 2.12 V and, thus, contribute to near zero energy consumption by effectively harvesting the substantial waste heat below 373 K.