Transforming CO<sub>2</sub> into advanced 3D printed carbon nanocomposites.
basic_science · Level V
Where this comes from
- Record sourced from PubMed, PMID 39632845.
- Also identified by DOI 10.1038/s41467-024-54957-w and PMC identifier 11618479.
- Licence recorded as CC BY-NC-ND.
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Abstract
The conversion of CO<sub>2</sub> emissions into valuable 3D printed carbon-based materials offers a transformative strategy for climate mitigation and resource utilization. Here, we 3D print carbon nanocomposites from CO<sub>2</sub> using an integrated system that electrochemically converts CO<sub>2</sub> into CO, followed by a thermocatalytic process that synthesizes carbon nanotubes (CNTs) which are then 3D printed into high-density carbon nanocomposites. A 200 cm<sup>2</sup> electrolyzer stack is integrated with a thermochemical reactor for more than 45 h of operation, cumulatively synthesizing 37 grams of CNTs from CO<sub>2</sub>. A techno-economic analysis indicates a 90% cost reduction in CNT production on an industrial scale compared to current benchmarks, underscoring the commercial viability of the system. A 3D printing process is developed that achieves a high nanocomposite CNT concentration (38 wt%) while enhancing composite structural attributes via CNT alignment. With the rapidly rising demand for carbon nanocomposites, this CO<sub>2</sub>-to-nanocomposite process can make a substantial impact on global carbon emission reduction efforts.