Korean-MIT Team Develops Efficient Technology to Capture Over 95% CO2 From Air

Korea and MIT achieve breakthrough in air purification technology for CO2 removal

Domestic researchers have developed a technology that filters carbon dioxide from the air in a high-purity state of over 95% using only the amount of power needed to charge a smartphone. This technology goes beyond simply reducing carbon emissions to purifying the air itself, thus drawing attention as a means to accelerate the achievement of carbon neutrality.

The Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) announced on the 25th that a research team led by Professor Ko Dong-yeon of the Department of Bio-Chemical Engineering has developed a highly efficient direct air capture (DAC) technology in collaboration with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), marking a world first. DAC is a technology that directly filters carbon dioxide, which is dispersed in very small amounts in the atmosphere. The results of this study were published in the international academic journal “Advanced Materials” on the 1st.

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Until now, DAC technology has faced challenges in commercialization. The concentration of carbon dioxide in the air is very low, necessitating the processing of large volumes of air, and a significant amount of energy is required to separate once-collected carbon dioxide. In fact, over 70% of the total energy was used for this process.

The research team solved these issues using a method of direct heating with electricity. By passing electricity through, the fibers that capture carbon dioxide heat themselves, allowing for quick and precise temperature control without the need for high-temperature steam or complex devices. As a result, the process of capturing and then separating carbon dioxide from the air can be repeated in a short time. Even using 3 volts (V) of electricity, equivalent to a smartphone charger, the fibers can be heated to 110 degrees in just 80 seconds, while unnecessary heat loss has been reduced by 20%.

The core of this technology is the “silver nano-coated fibers.” The research team embedded materials with excellent carbon dioxide capture performance inside the fibers and evenly applied very fine threads and particles made of silver to the outer surface of the fibers. This allows electricity to pass through easily while enabling carbon dioxide to enter the inside of the fibers swiftly, allowing for rapid heating and efficient capture simultaneously. They successfully gathered over 95% high-purity carbon dioxide even from the actual air.

The diagram illustrates the production process of a conductive fiber-type DAC device based on a nano-composite and the carbon dioxide capture and regeneration mechanism through a high-speed operating cycle./Courtesy of KAIST

The research team led by Professor Ko has already applied for an international patent at the end of 2022 to secure the foundational technology. They have also completed preparations for commercialization beyond simple laboratory research.

This technology operates solely on electricity, making it easy to connect with renewable energy sources like solar and wind. It is evaluated as a technology that can be immediately utilized by corporations that have declared their goal of 100% renewable energy use, such as those promoting carbon-neutral processes. In addition, it is expected that this technology could be applied to various future energy environment technologies, including urban DAC systems linked with building HVAC systems and distributed electrochemical reactors.

(From left) Professor Ko Dong-yeon from KAIST's Department of Bio-Chemical Engineering, Professor T. Alan Hatton from MIT's Department of Chemical Engineering, and PhD candidates Lee Young-hoon, Lee Jong-hoon, and Ju Hwa-ju from MIT's Department of Chemical Engineering./Courtesy of KAIST

Professor Ko Dong-yeon said, "This technology is not just about reducing carbon dioxide emissions but is a key means of cleaning the air. It can be applied not only in industrial sites but also in urban systems, and Korea will play a significant role in leading future DAC technologies."

(From left) Professor Ko Dong-yeon from KAIST's Department of Bio-Chemical Engineering, Professor T. Alan Hatton from MIT's Department of Chemical Engineering, and PhD candidates Lee Young-hoon, Lee Jong-hoon, and Ju Hwa-ju from MIT's Department of Chemical Engineering./Courtesy of KAIST

References

Advanced Materials (2025), DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.202504542