(111h) Novel Liquid-Like Organic Hybrid Nanomaterials for CO2 Capture

With ever increasing needs for energy independence and sustainability, a myriad of CO₂ capture technologies have been developed including various adsorbents, membranes and solvents. Nanoparticle Organic Hybrid Materials (NOHMs) are one of those novel solvents that have been designed with tunable chemical and physical properties. These nanomaterials are synthesized via a straightforward two-step method in which polymeric chains are ionically or covalently tethered onto the surface of inorganic nanocores, leading to the formation of a solvent-free colloidal system. Owing to this unique configuration, NOHMs exhibit enhanced thermal stability and negligible vapor pressure. They can, therefore, address some of the shortcomings encountered by typical amine-based solvents (i.e. partial loss of the materials via evaporation and high energy penalty during the solvent regeneration). In this study, several types of NOHMs are synthesized, characterized and evaluated for CO₂ capture under varying conditions. An in-depth investigation of their kinetics, thermodynamics and mechanisms of CO₂ capture in terms of both enthalpic and entropic contributions is conducted. The findings of this research have provided a fundamental knowledge of these novel liquid-like hybrid nanomaterials and have identified key chemical and structural factors ensuring efficient CO₂ capture from conventional power generation and gasification systems.