Moisture-Swing Polymers Could Make Direct Air Capture Radically Cheaper
Most direct air capture systems have an energy problem. They need heat — often a lot of it — to release captured CO₂ from their sorbents. That heat costs money and energy, and it’s a major reason DAC still runs $400-1,000+ per tonne. Moisture-swing sorbents work differently. They absorb CO₂ when dry and release it when wet. No heat required. Just water. It’s an idea that’s been around for over a decade, pioneered by Klaus Lackner at Arizona State University. But making it work efficiently requires understanding exactly what happens inside these materials at a structural level. ...