Overview

• The system is the first to use sunlight for both capturing and releasing carbon dioxide, inspired by the RuBisCO enzyme in plants.
• Researchers successfully tested the technology on real flue gas from Cornell’s Combined Heat and Power Building, demonstrating its effectiveness in real-world conditions.
• The process employs an inexpensive sorbent, 2-methylbenzophenone, achieving performance equal to or better than other light-driven methods without requiring energy-intensive cooling steps.
• The study, published in *Chem*, highlights the potential for scalable solar panels to directly capture CO₂ from the air for storage or conversion.
• Supported by organizations like the NSF and DOE, the team is now pursuing commercialization and exploring applications for other gas separations.