IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/nat/natcom/v15y2024i1d10.1038_s41467-024-54957-w.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Transforming CO2 into advanced 3D printed carbon nanocomposites

Author

Listed:
  • Bradie S. Crandall

    (Washington University
    Washington University
    University of Delaware)

  • Matthew Naughton

    (University of Delaware)

  • Soyeon Park

    (University of Delaware)

  • Jia Yu

    (Washington University
    Washington University)

  • Chunyan Zhang

    (University of Delaware
    University of Delaware)

  • Shima Mahtabian

    (University of Delaware)

  • Kaiying Wang

    (Washington University)

  • Xinhua Liang

    (Washington University)

  • Kelvin Fu

    (University of Delaware
    University of Delaware)

  • Feng Jiao

    (Washington University
    Washington University)

Abstract

The conversion of CO2 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 CO2 using an integrated system that electrochemically converts CO2 into CO, followed by a thermocatalytic process that synthesizes carbon nanotubes (CNTs) which are then 3D printed into high-density carbon nanocomposites. A 200 cm2 electrolyzer stack is integrated with a thermochemical reactor for more than 45 h of operation, cumulatively synthesizing 37 grams of CNTs from CO2. 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 CO2-to-nanocomposite process can make a substantial impact on global carbon emission reduction efforts.

Suggested Citation

  • Bradie S. Crandall & Matthew Naughton & Soyeon Park & Jia Yu & Chunyan Zhang & Shima Mahtabian & Kaiying Wang & Xinhua Liang & Kelvin Fu & Feng Jiao, 2024. "Transforming CO2 into advanced 3D printed carbon nanocomposites," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-9, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:15:y:2024:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-024-54957-w
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-54957-w
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-024-54957-w
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1038/s41467-024-54957-w?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Cameron Hepburn & Ella Adlen & John Beddington & Emily A. Carter & Sabine Fuss & Niall Mac Dowell & Jan C. Minx & Pete Smith & Charlotte K. Williams, 2019. "The technological and economic prospects for CO2 utilization and removal," Nature, Nature, vol. 575(7781), pages 87-97, November.
    2. Dwarakanath Ravikumar & Duo Zhang & Gregory Keoleian & Shelie Miller & Volker Sick & Victor Li, 2021. "Carbon dioxide utilization in concrete curing or mixing might not produce a net climate benefit," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 12(1), pages 1-13, December.
    3. Haeun Shin & Kentaro U. Hansen & Feng Jiao, 2021. "Techno-economic assessment of low-temperature carbon dioxide electrolysis," Nature Sustainability, Nature, vol. 4(10), pages 911-919, October.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Leiming Hu & Jacob A. Wrubel & Carlos M. Baez-Cotto & Fry Intia & Jae Hyung Park & Arthur Jeremy Kropf & Nancy Kariuki & Zhe Huang & Ahmed Farghaly & Lynda Amichi & Prantik Saha & Ling Tao & David A. , 2023. "A scalable membrane electrode assembly architecture for efficient electrochemical conversion of CO2 to formic acid," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-11, December.
    2. Guido Busca, 2024. "Critical Aspects of Energetic Transition Technologies and the Roles of Materials Chemistry and Engineering," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(14), pages 1-32, July.
    3. Michael Carus & Lara Dammer & Achim Raschka & Pia Skoczinski, 2020. "Renewable carbon: Key to a sustainable and future‐oriented chemical and plastic industry: Definition, strategy, measures and potential," Greenhouse Gases: Science and Technology, Blackwell Publishing, vol. 10(3), pages 488-505, June.
    4. Joey Disch & Luca Bohn & Susanne Koch & Michael Schulz & Yiyong Han & Alessandro Tengattini & Lukas Helfen & Matthias Breitwieser & Severin Vierrath, 2022. "High-resolution neutron imaging of salt precipitation and water transport in zero-gap CO2 electrolysis," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-9, December.
    5. Moreaux, Michel & Amigues, Jean-Pierre & van der Meijden, Gerard & Withagen, Cees, 2024. "Carbon capture: Storage vs. Utilization," Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, Elsevier, vol. 125(C).
    6. Zhang, Ning & Zhang, Duo & Zuo, Jian & Miller, Travis R. & Duan, Huabo & Schiller, Georg, 2022. "Potential for CO2 mitigation and economic benefits from accelerated carbonation of construction and demolition waste," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 169(C).
    7. Tihamér Tibor Sebestyén, 2024. "Evaluation of the Carbon Footprint of Wooden Glamping Structures by Life Cycle Assessment," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(7), pages 1-27, March.
    8. Zhao, Yi & Hagi, Hayato & Delahaye, Bruno & Maréchal, François, 2024. "A holistic approach to refinery decarbonization based on atomic, energy and exergy flow analysis," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 296(C).
    9. Wanyu Deng & Peng Zhang & Yu Qiao & Georg Kastlunger & Nitish Govindarajan & Aoni Xu & Ib Chorkendorff & Brian Seger & Jinlong Gong, 2024. "Unraveling the rate-determining step of C2+ products during electrochemical CO reduction," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-8, December.
    10. Kaili Yao & Jun Li & Adnan Ozden & Haibin Wang & Ning Sun & Pengyu Liu & Wen Zhong & Wei Zhou & Jieshu Zhou & Xi Wang & Hanqi Liu & Yongchang Liu & Songhua Chen & Yongfeng Hu & Ziyun Wang & David Sint, 2024. "In situ copper faceting enables efficient CO2/CO electrolysis," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-10, December.
    11. Georgios Varvoutis & Athanasios Lampropoulos & Evridiki Mandela & Michalis Konsolakis & George E. Marnellos, 2022. "Recent Advances on CO 2 Mitigation Technologies: On the Role of Hydrogenation Route via Green H 2," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(13), pages 1-38, June.
    12. Tuğçe Beyazay & Kendra S. Belthle & Christophe Farès & Martina Preiner & Joseph Moran & William F. Martin & Harun Tüysüz, 2023. "Ambient temperature CO2 fixation to pyruvate and subsequently to citramalate over iron and nickel nanoparticles," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-11, December.
    13. Subrato Acharjya & Jiacheng Chen & Minghui Zhu & Chong Peng, 2021. "Elucidating the reactivity and nature of active sites for tin phthalocyanine during CO2 reduction," Greenhouse Gases: Science and Technology, Blackwell Publishing, vol. 11(6), pages 1191-1197, December.
    14. Xinyang Gao & Yongjun Jiang & Jiyuan Liu & Guoshuai Shi & Chunlei Yang & Qinshang Xu & Yuanqing Yun & Yuluo Shen & Mingwei Chang & Chenyuan Zhu & Tingyu Lu & Yin Wang & Guanchen Du & Shuzhou Li & Shen, 2024. "Intermediate-regulated dynamic restructuring at Ag-Cu biphasic interface enables selective CO2 electroreduction to C2+ fuels," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-12, December.
    15. Chang, Yuan & Gao, Siqi & Ma, Qian & Wei, Ying & Li, Guoping, 2024. "Techno-economic analysis of carbon capture and utilization technologies and implications for China," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 199(C).
    16. Haozhou Yang & Na Guo & Shibo Xi & Yao Wu & Bingqing Yao & Qian He & Chun Zhang & Lei Wang, 2024. "Potential-driven structural distortion in cobalt phthalocyanine for electrocatalytic CO2/CO reduction towards methanol," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-14, December.
    17. Rafaty, R. & Dolphin, G. & Pretis, F., 2020. "Carbon pricing and the elasticity of CO2 emissions," Cambridge Working Papers in Economics 20116, Faculty of Economics, University of Cambridge.
    18. Cameron Hepburn & Brian O’Callaghan & Nicholas Stern & Joseph Stiglitz & Dimitri Zenghelis, 2020. "Will COVID-19 fiscal recovery packages accelerate or retard progress on climate change?," Oxford Review of Economic Policy, Oxford University Press and Oxford Review of Economic Policy Limited, vol. 36(Supplemen), pages 359-381.
    19. Chen, S. & Shi, W.K. & Yong, J.Y. & Zhuang, Y. & Lin, Q.Y. & Gao, N. & Zhang, X.J. & Jiang, L., 2023. "Numerical study on a structured packed adsorption bed for indoor direct air capture," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 282(C).
    20. Hefei Li & Pengfei Wei & Tianfu Liu & Mingrun Li & Chao Wang & Rongtan Li & Jinyu Ye & Zhi-You Zhou & Shi-Gang Sun & Qiang Fu & Dunfeng Gao & Guoxiong Wang & Xinhe Bao, 2024. "CO electrolysis to multicarbon products over grain boundary-rich Cu nanoparticles in membrane electrode assembly electrolyzers," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-11, December.

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:15:y:2024:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-024-54957-w. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.nature.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.