A “crazy idea” dreamt up during the Covid-19 lockdowns by University of Cambridge researchers has led to the creation of a low-cost, energy-efficient method for making material that can capture carbon dioxide (CO2) directly from the air. They used a method similar to charging a battery but instead charged activated charcoal – often used in household water filters. Charging a charcoal ‘sponge’ with ions that form reversible bonds with CO2, means they can successfully capture the gas directly from the air. This could prove more energy efficient than current carbon capture approaches, as it requi…
