Nickel Hydroxide Battery Captures CO2 in Electrochemical Seesaw
University of Delaware team led by James Buchen demonstrates a battery-based carbon-capture method that may use less energy and cost less than reversible-filter designs.
A University of Delaware team led by James Buchen has demonstrated a battery-based electrochemical technique for capturing carbon dioxide. The researchers claim the approach is more viable than previous attempts and could require less energy and cost less than reversible-filter designs.
The method relies on chemistry that unfolds at the battery's electrodes. Hydroxide produced at the cathode reacts with CO2, converting it into carbonate or bicarbonate. That carbonate or bicarbonate then passes through a separator membrane to the anode, where a lower pH reverses the reaction and releases CO2 gas.
Both the cathode and anode are made of nickel hydroxide, the same material used as the cathode in nickel-metal hydride batteries. The device operates like a chemical seesaw: reversing the applied voltage reverses the chemistry.
The work was reported by arstechnica.com. No release date or commercial timeline was provided.
Quick answers
How does the battery-based carbon capture work?
Hydroxide at the cathode reacts with CO2 to form carbonate or bicarbonate, which crosses a separator membrane to the anode. There, lower pH reverses the reaction and releases CO2 gas.
What materials are used in the device?
Both the cathode and anode are made of nickel hydroxide, the same material as the cathode in nickel-metal hydride batteries.
What are the claimed advantages?
The University of Delaware team says the technique could require less energy and be cheaper than reversible-filter designs.