The National Science Foundation (NSF) Division of Chemical, Bioengineering, Environmental, and Transport Systems awarded a $299,980 Project Grant to the University of Southern California (USC) for the period of August 1, 2023 to July 31, 2026. The purpose of this grant is to investigate mass and energy transfer mechanisms in stimuli-responsive "smart" sorbent materials for direct air capture of carbon dioxide (CO2). The research aims to develop new sorbent materials that can release adsorbed CO2 using an external magnetic field, without requiring external heating. This approach aims to overcome limitations of current direct air capture technologies which are highly energy-intensive. The project will employ a range of experimental and computational techniques to characterize the fundamental energy and mass transfer processes involved in magnetic field-triggered CO2 desorption from composite sorbent materials. Findings from this research are expected to enable more energy-efficient direct air capture systems to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions.
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