Advanced polymer nanocomposites for CO₂ absorption: from design to application in greenhouse gas reduction
Subject Areas : پلیمرها در انرژی و کاربردهای بهداشتی و محیطی
1 -
Keywords: Polymer nanocomposite, selective adsorption, carbon dioxide, greenhouse gases, amine functionality,
Abstract :
The increasing concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, as the primary greenhouse gas, has necessitated the development of efficient and novel capture technologies. Traditional methods, such as liquid amine scrubbing, suffer from drawbacks including high energy consumption, equipment corrosion, and solvent degradation. In this context, solid adsorbents, particularly polymer nanocomposites, have gained significant importance due to their high specific surface area, functionalizability, and ease of regeneration. In this review article, the design principles, adsorption mechanisms (physical, chemical, and combined), types of polymer matrices (polyimide, polysulfone, polyethyleneimine), and effective nanofillers (metal-organic frameworks, graphene oxide, carbon nanotubes, porous nanosilica) are investigated. The results indicate that through amine functionalization, optimal selection of nanofillers, and the simultaneous combination of physical and chemical adsorption, a significant improvement in performance can be achieved. Fabrication methods include solution mixing, melt compounding, and in-situ polymerization. The main challenges include moisture stability, high cost of nanofillers, and process scalability. Key applications of this technology include CO₂ separation from power plant flue gas, natural gas sweetening, and direct air capture. With advances in green synthesis and the development of mixed matrix membranes, polymer nanocomposites offer a promising outlook for a low-carbon future. Simultaneous optimization of components and operating conditions will be key to achieving desirable industrial performance.
1. Forster P. M., et al., Indicators of Global Climate Change 2023: annual update of large-scale indicators of the state of the climate system and human influence, Earth System Science Data, 16(6), 2625-2658, 2024.
2. Lee H., Romero J. (Eds.), IPCC, 2023: Climate Change 2023: Synthesis Report. Contribution of Working Groups I, II and III to the Sixth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, IPCC, Geneva, Switzerland, 2023.
3. Dutcher B., Fan M., Russell A. G., Amine-based CO₂ capture technology development from the beginning of 2013—a review, ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, 7, 2137-2148, 2015.
4. Wang Q., Luo J., Zhong Z., Borgna A., CO₂ capture by solid adsorbents and their applications: current status and new trends, Energy & Environmental Science, 4, 42-55, 2011.
5. Samanta A., Zhao A., Shimizu G. K., Sarkar P., Gupta R., Post-combustion CO₂ capture using solid sorbents: a review, Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research, 51, 1438-1463, 2012.
6. Xu X., Song C., Andresen J. M., Miller B. G., Scaroni A. W., Novel polyethylenimine-modified mesoporous molecular sieve of MCM-41 type as high-capacity adsorbent for CO₂ capture, Energy & Fuels, 16, 1463-1469, 2002.
7. Lin Y. S., Polymer nanocomposite membranes for CO₂ capture, Journal of Membrane Science, 639, 119763, 2021.
8. Hoffman J., et al., Role of polymer architecture in CO₂ capture from air using supported poly(alkylenimine)s: linear vs branched polymers, ACS Applied Polymer Materials, 7, 15671-15681, 2025.
9. Furukawa H., Cordova K. E., O'Keeffe M., Yaghi O. M., The chemistry and applications of metal-organic frameworks, Science, 341, 1230444, 2013.
10. Zhao D. L., Zhao Y. G., Graphene oxide–polyethylenimine composite for CO₂ capture: effect of loading and crosslinking, Journal of CO₂ Utilization, 39, 101166, 2020.
11. Bai L., Jiang X., Deng Y., Wang S., Liu H., Amine-functionalized CNTs@mSiO₂ with short radical mesochannels for fast and efficient CO₂ capture, Journal of Materials Chemistry A, 13, 30065-30072, 2025.
12. Chung T. S., Jiang L. Y., Li Y., Kulprathipanja S., Mixed matrix membranes (MMMs) comprising organic polymers with dispersed inorganic fillers for gas separation, Progress in Polymer Science, 32, 483-507, 2007.
13. Samanta A., Zhao A., Shimizu G. K. H., Sarkar P., Gupta R., Post-Combustion CO2 Capture Using Solid Sorbents: A Review, Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research, 51, 1438-1463, 2012.
14. Kishor R., Ghoshal A. K., Amine‐Impregnated Mesoporous Silica for CO2 Capture: A Review, Chemical Engineering Journal, 413, 127757, 2021.
15. Xu X., Song C., Andresen J. M., Miller B. G., Novel polyethylenimine-modified mesoporous molecular sieve of MCM-41 type as high-capacity adsorbent for CO2 capture, Energy & Fuels, 16, 1463-1469, 2002.
16. Zhang Z., Yao Z. Z., Xiang S., Chen B., Perspective of microporous metal–organic frameworks for CO2 capture and separation, Energy & Environmental Science, 7, 2868-2899, 2014.
17. Robeson L. M., The upper bound revisited, Journal of Membrane Science, 320, 390-400, 2008.
18. Furukawa H., Cordova K. E., O'Keeffe M., Yaghi O. M., The Chemistry and Applications of Metal-Organic Frameworks, Science, 341, 1230444, 2013.
19. Zhao D. L., Zhao Y. G., Zhang Y. H., Graphene oxide–polyethylenimine composite for CO2 capture: effect of loading and crosslinking, Journal of CO2 Utilization, 39, 101166, 2020.
20. Su F., Lu C., Polyethylenimine-functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes for CO2 capture, Chemical Engineering Journal, 215-216, 749-755, 2013.
21. Ma P. C., Siddiqui N. A., Marom G., Kim J. K., Dispersion and functionalization of carbon nanotubes for polymer-based nanocomposites: A review, Composites Part A, 41, 1345-1367, 2010.
22. Pavlidou S., Papaspyrides C. D., A review on polymer–layered silicate nanocomposites, Progress in Polymer Science, 33, 1119-1198, 2008.
23. Liu Y., Wang J., Zhang Y., Wu H., In situ polymerization of polyamide 6/functionalized MWCNT nanocomposites for CO2 separation, Journal of Applied Polymer Science, 137, 48956, 2020.
24. Pang S. H., Lively R. P., Water-Enhanced CO2 Capture by Solid Amine Sorbents, ChemSusChem, 12, 2121-2125, 2019.
25. Jana A., Modi A., Recent progress on functional polymeric membranes for CO₂ separation from flue gases: A review, Carbon Capture Science & Technology, 11, 100204, 2024.
26. Sun L., Li Q., Li K., et al., State-of-the-art polymeric membranes and polymer derived membranes for simultaneous CO₂ and H₂S removal from sour natural gas, Frontiers of Chemical Science and Engineering, 19, 40, 2025.
27. Robertson M., et al., Polymer Sorbent Design for the Direct Air Capture of CO₂, ACS Applied Polymer Materials, 6, 14169-14189, 2024.
28. Sharma S., et al., Recent advances in sustainable biopolymer-based nanocomposites for smart food packaging: A review, International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 278, 135-150, 2024.
29. Rahman M. M., et al., A review of nanostructured carbon dioxide sensors based on electrical and thermal conductivity, Results in Engineering, 25, 102-118, 2025.