This invention enables highly efficient and cost-effective carbon capture

In the face of the climate emergency, improving CO₂ capture technologies is essential to reduce industrial emissions. Researchers at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL) have made a significant breakthrough by developing graphene membranes as thin as an atom, incorporating pyridinic nitrogen. This innovation could revolutionize the way industries handle their carbon dioxide emissions.


CO₂ emissions from power plants, cement plants, steel mills, and waste incinerators pose a major challenge. Currently, carbon capture methods are often energy-intensive and costly, limiting their widespread adoption. To overcome these obstacles, scientists are exploring new technologies, such as carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS), to make these processes more efficient and economical.


Graphene, a material renowned for its exceptional properties, is at the heart of this innovation. The team led by Kumar Varoon Agrawal at EPFL has developed graphene membranes with pyridinic nitrogen-enriched pore edges, significantly enhancing CO₂ capture. These membranes demonstrate a remarkable balance between permeance and selectivity, two essential characteristics for effective carbon capture.

The fabrication of these membranes involves several advanced steps. First, researchers synthesize monolayer graphene films by chemical vapor deposition on a copper sheet. Then, pores are created by controlled ozone oxidation, followed by ammonia treatment to integrate pyridinic nitrogen at the pore edges. This methodology ensures precise nitrogen integration, essential for membrane performance.

The results are impressive: these membranes present a CO₂/N₂ separation factor of 53 for gas streams containing 20% CO₂. For concentrations as low as 1% CO₂, the separation factor exceeds 1,000. These exceptional performances demonstrate the potential of these membranes for industrial applications even in low CO₂ concentration conditions.

The membrane preparation process is not only efficient but also scalable, allowing centimeter-scale production. This scalability is crucial for their large-scale deployment in industrial environments. The EPFL team now envisions producing these membranes through a continuous process, paving the way for broad industrial adoption and significant reductions in the costs and energy demands of carbon capture processes.

The incorporation of these membranes could radically transform industrial practices in managing CO₂ emissions. By offering a more sustainable and economical solution for CCUS, this technology represents a major step forward in the fight against climate change.

Article author: Cédric DEPOND