Development of Indigenous Integrated Carbon Capture and Conversion (ICCC) Technology

CO2 concentrations in the atmosphere continue to rise primarily due to human activities such as burning fossil fuels and deforestation, and its adverse impacts on the environment and human society have become increasingly evident. These impacts include rising temperatures, changes in precipitation patterns, sea level rise, ocean acidification, and disruptions to ecosystems and biodiversity. To mitigate these issues, CO2 capture and conversion technologies have gained significant attention as promising strategies. One of the emerging materials, MXenes, is a strong candidate for CO2 capture and utilization (CCU). MXenes are a class of two-dimensional inorganic compounds that consist of atomically thin layers of transition metal carbides. These materials have an inherent ability to be an efficient catalyst for CO2 conversion into CO, MeOH, CH4, and many other products. However, the conversion of CO2 achieved to date for the reported MXenes is ~30% and is workable in bit harsher conditions. Improving MXene could enhance the CO2 adsorption and its conversion to some value-added chemicals in normal conditions. This project aims to improve the CO2 adsorption and conversion properties of MXene, preferably in terms of workable conditions and conversion rate.