Contaminant-tolerant catalyst could capture carbon directly from smokestacks

Researchers at the University of Toronto have developed a new catalyst that effectively converts captured carbon dioxide (CO2) into valuable products, even in the presence of sulfur dioxide (SO2), a common contaminant that typically degrades catalyst performance. This advancement is significant for carbon capture and storage technologies, particularly in industries like steel and cement manufacturing, which are challenging to decarbonize. The catalyst operates within electrolyzers, where CO2 and electricity are transformed into products such as ethylene and ethanol, which can be utilized as fuels or chemical feedstocks.

The innovative catalyst features a dual-layer design: a Teflon coating that reduces SO2 poisoning and a Nafion layer that impedes SO2 access to the catalyst surface. Testing revealed that the new catalyst maintained a Faraday efficiency of 50% for 150 hours, demonstrating resilience against SO2 contamination. This performance contrasts sharply with existing catalysts, which can lose efficiency rapidly when exposed to impurities.

The researchers emphasize that their approach could be adapted to enhance the performance of other high-performing catalysts, potentially broadening the scope of carbon capture technologies. Future work will focus on addressing additional impurities, such as nitrogen oxides, to further improve the catalyst's effectiveness in real-world applications. This development opens new avenues for economically viable carbon capture solutions integrated into existing industrial processes.