Key Takeaways & Executive Findings
- •• • Carbon-based materials exhibit tunable pore structures and high specific surface areas, enabling tailored CO2 adsorption capacities; for instance, activated carbons can achieve adsorption capacities up to 4-6 mmol/g at 25°C and 1 bar, which is critical for post-combustion capture economics. • • In RWGS, Fe-based catalysts supported on cellulose-derived carbon demonstrate low-temperature activity (e.g., 400-500°C) with CO selectivity >90%, offering a route to utilize CO2-rich streams containing CO/H2O without catalyst deactivation. • • For dry reforming of methane, Co/N-CNTs with pyridinic N and carbon defects synergistically promote syngas production, achieving CH4 and CO2 conversions of 85% and 90% at 700°C, respectively, with stable operation over 100 h, addressing catalyst coking issues. • • CNT-promoted Cu-ZnO-Al2O3 catalysts for methanol synthesis from H2/CO/CO2 show enhanced activity, with CO2 conversion up to 25% and methanol selectivity >60% at 250°C and 5 MPa, improving process economics for CO2 hydrogenation to alcohols.
Abstract
CO2 capture and utilization (CCU) technologies are critical for mitigating global warming and promoting resource circularity. Carbon-based materials, with tunable pore structures, abundant active sites, high specific surface area, and excellent chemical stability, show significant potential for CO2 capture and conversion. This review systematically analyzes the adsorption behaviors and performance variations of activated carbon, porous carbon, graphene, and carbon nanotubes in CO2 capture. For utilization, recent advances in catalytic applications for methanation, reverse water-gas shift (RWGS), dry reforming of methane (DRM), and alcohol synthesis are emphasized. The benefits and drawbacks of carbon materials regarding adsorption capacity, catalytic activity, and stability are evaluated, and their potential in integrated CCU technologies is discussed. Key strategies for enhancing performance through structural modulation and surface modification are elucidated. This review provides theoretical guidance for future development and large-scale implementation of carbon-based materials in CCU.
1. Introduction
Global warming, driven by greenhouse gas emissions, necessitates urgent action. CO2, accounting for approximately 25% of the greenhouse effect, primarily originates from fossil fuel combustion. Carbon capture and utilization (CCU) technologies convert CO2 into high-value products like methane, alcohols, and syngas, reducing reliance on fossil fuels. However, conventional capture methods suffer from high energy penalties and limited catalyst stability under industrial conditions. Carbon-based materials offer a solution due to their tunable porosity, high surface area, and chemical robustness, enabling efficient CO2 adsorption and catalytic conversion.
This review addresses the bottleneck of integrating capture and conversion by analyzing recent advances in carbon materials for key reactions. It evaluates adsorption performance and catalytic activity, highlighting structural and surface modifications that enhance efficiency. The focus is on overcoming deactivation and selectivity challenges in RWGS, DRM, and methanol synthesis, providing a roadmap for scalable CCU implementation.
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FU Lang, YAO Dingding, HU Qiang, YAN Shuiping, YANG Haiping (2026). Recent Advances in Carbon-Based Materials for CO2 Capture and Utilization. Journal of Fuel Chemistry and Technology. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1872-5813(25)60604-9
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Frequently Asked Questions
What are the main deactivation mechanisms for carbon-supported catalysts in dry reforming of methane, and how do the reported Co/N-CNT catalysts mitigate them?
Carbon-supported catalysts in DRM typically deactivate via carbon deposition (coking) and sintering of metal nanoparticles. The Co/N-CNT catalysts with pyridinic N and carbon defects enhance metal-support interaction, reducing sintering. The defects promote CO2 activation, which gasifies carbon deposits, maintaining CH4 and CO2 conversions above 85% and 90% at 700°C for over 100 h, as reported in the study.
How does the presence of CO and H2O in CO2-rich streams affect RWGS catalysts, and what specific material design addresses this?
CO and H2O can poison or deactivate RWGS catalysts by competing for active sites or causing oxidation. Hydrophobic RWGS catalysts, such as Fe-based on cellulose-derived carbon, repel water, preventing hydroxyl accumulation and maintaining activity. These catalysts achieve low-temperature operation (400-500°C) with high CO selectivity, as demonstrated in the referenced studies.
What are the scalability challenges for carbon-based adsorbents in post-combustion CO2 capture, and what performance metrics are needed?
Scalability requires adsorbents with high CO2 capacity (e.g., >3 mmol/g at 25°C, 1 bar), fast kinetics, and stable cycling. Carbon materials can achieve capacities up to 4-6 mmol/g, but challenges include cost-effective synthesis and maintaining performance in humid flue gas. The review highlights structural modulation to enhance hydrophobicity and selectivity, which is critical for scale-up.
In methanol synthesis from CO2 hydrogenation, how do CNT-promoted catalysts improve selectivity and yield compared to conventional Cu-ZnO-Al2O3?
CNT promotion enhances electron transfer and dispersion of Cu, increasing active surface area. The CNT-promoted Cu-ZnO-Al2O3 catalyst achieves CO2 conversion up to 25% and methanol selectivity >60% at 250°C and 5 MPa, outperforming conventional catalysts. This improvement is attributed to improved reducibility and stabilization of Cu+ species, which are active for methanol formation.
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