Interconnected-Pore Nanoporous Carbon Monoliths for High-Volumetric Direct Air Capture
1 October 2026
Affiliation
NUS
Focus topic
CO2 Capture
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Summary
A conductive nanoporous amorphous carbon (NAC) platform was developed as a mechanically robust amine-functionalised sorbent for direct air capture (DAC). The fully interconnected 3D pore network enables high amine loading while maintaining CO₂ diffusion pathways, resulting in a volumetric CO₂ uptake of up to 1.6 mmol cm⁻³ under pre-humidified conditions—over 3× higher than leading shaped DAC sorbents. The material can be fabricated into dense pellets or low-pressure-drop honeycomb monoliths. The honeycomb contactor achieved a volumetric adsorption productivity of 0.32 mmol cm⁻³ h⁻¹, up to 2.5× higher than representative ion-exchange resin pellet sorbents, while reducing fan energy by approximately two orders of magnitude through its open-channel architecture. As the conductive NAC framework enables direct Joule heating, regeneration is completed in approximately 16 minutes, around 2× faster than conventional external heating, with cooling time reduced by more than 3×. The sorbent also demonstrated stable cyclic adsorption–desorption performance and high mechanical robustness.
What makes this novel compared to best-in-class technology?
Integrates a conductive nanoporous carbon framework, interconnected 3D pore network and honeycomb architecture to simultaneously achieve high volumetric CO₂ capture, low pressure drop and rapid Joule-heated regeneration—performance not achieved by conventional pellet or monolithic DAC sorbents.
TRL Level
1-3
Relevant for
Direct air capture plants, carbon removal facilities, DAC module manufacturers, carbon capture equipment suppliers, industrial carbon removal systems, distributed/urban DAC installations
About
Inventors: Barbaros Ozyilmaz
Affiliation: National University of Singapore (NUS), College of Design and Engineering (CDE)
Contact NUS for licensing opportunities and more information.
Please quote ID ref [2026-044] in your email.