2D Transition Metal Carbides (MXenes) for Carbon Capture

Global warming caused by burning of fossil fuels is indisputably one of mankinds greatest challenges in the 21st century. To reduce the ever-increasing CO2 emissions released into the atmosphere, dry solid adsorbents with large surface-to-volume ratio such as carbonaceous materials, zeolites, and metal-organic frameworks have emerged as promising material candidates for capturing CO2. However, challenges remain because of limited CO2/N-2 selectivity and long-term stability. The effective adsorption of CO2 gas (approximate to 12 mol kg(-1)) on individual sheets of 2D transition metal carbides (referred to as MXenes) is reported here. It is shown that exposure to N-2 gas results in no adsorption, consistent with first-principles calculations. The adsorption efficiency combined with the CO2/N-2 selectivity, together with a chemical and thermal stability, identifies the archetype Ti3C2 MXene as a new material for carbon capture (CC) applications.Funding Agencies|Swedish Research Council [2016-04412, 2016-00889, 642-2013-8020]; Knut and Alice Wallenbergs Foundation [KAW 2015.0043]; Swedish Foundation for Strategic Research (SSF) [EM16-0004, RIF 14-0074, FL12-0181]; Swedish Government Strategic Research Area in Materials Science on Functional Materials at Linkoping University (Faculty Grant SFO-Mat-LiU) [2009 00971]