Metal Nanocomposites—Emerging Advanced Materials for Efficient Carbon Capture

Abstract

The contribution of CO2 towards greenhouse gas emissions resulting into environmental deterioration, global warming, and as a contaminant impeding the performance of fossil fuels, has led to global efforts to mitigate its emission. Among various technologies employed for carbon capture and sequestration (CCS), the emergence of nanocomposites as state-of-the-art materials has triggered immense scope of research. A nanocomposite is a merger of different materials where at least one of the materials has a size ranging between 1 and 100 nm. The nanomaterials thus incorporated can vary between nanoparticles, nanofibers, carbon nanotubes or activated carbon. The basic building blocks of nanocomposites comprise of metals, ceramics and polymers. Nanocomposites exhibit a combination of properties derived from their constituent components, which renders improved and evolved characteristics to this material. This chapter will focus on the most recent developments, specifically in the domain of metal nanocomposite materials for CO2 capture. Metal nanocomposites have shown promising adsorbent properties owing to large surface area, plenty of nanopores, enhanced reactivity, porosity and a greater ease of synthesis. Some of the important metal nanocomposites for carbon capture that will be discussed include—iron oxide (Fe3O4)-graphene nanocomposite suitable for CO2 capture at elevated temperatures and pressures; activated carbon infused with Mg, Al, Cu, Ni and mixed metal nanocomposites, and MgO/carbon nanocomposite for improved and faster CO2 adsorption. In addition, some polymeric nanocomposites such as—polysulfone combined with activated carbon–metal (Ni and Co) nanocomposites and organic polymer membranes infused with amine functionalized SiO2 or TiO2 nanoparticles are also included as thermally stable, mechanically strong, energy-efficient and economically viable carbon capture materials.