Worldwide climate change is a significant issue that is associated with CO₂ emissions. In an attempt to decrease the amount of CO₂ in the atmosphere, many efforts are focusing on the development of different methods to capture the unwanted CO₂.

Yi-Feng Lin, Chung Yuan Christian University, Chungli, Taiwan, and Te-Yu Wei, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan, and their teams have developed highly porous membrane materials to be used for capturing CO₂ at industrial power plants. These materials are constructed from mesoporous SiO₂ aerogel membranes that are coated onto macroporous Al₂O₃ membranes. The materials are then modified with fluorocarbon functional groups to create highly hydrophobic aerogel membranes.

The new material was tested in membrane contactors and the hydrophobic nature of the surface prevented wetting by amine absorbents, but allowed CO₂ to be absorbed. Therefore, it was possible for these modified aerogel membranes to be used for extended periods of continuous CO₂ absorption. A threefold absorption flux increase was also observed with the modified material compared to the uncoated membranes.

These membranes represent a promising technology for large-scale CO₂ absorption and could be used during the post-combustion processes in power plants.

• Mesoporous Fluorocarbon-Modified Silica Aerogel Membranes Enabling Long-Term Continuous CO₂ Capture with Large Absorption Flux Enhancements,
  Yi-Feng Lin, Chien-Hua Chen, Kuo-Lun Tung, Te-Yu Wei, Shih-Yuan Lu, Kai-Shiun Chang,
  ChemSusChem 2013, 6, 437–442.
  DOI: 10.1002/cssc.201200837