Eco Capture - Using MXene Membranes to Reduce CO2 in the Atmosphere

We all know the looming threat of climate change, but do you know just how severe it’s impact could be by 2100? Between unlivable temperatures, a world-wide famine, or even extinction of the human race, it becomes more and more evident that the climate crisis is an issue that needs to be addressed as soon as possible.

Chances are, you also know that extremely high CO2 concentrations in the atmosphere are the leading cause of climate change. Current methods to tackle these concentrations, such as direct air capture (DAC), however, are not all that effective. One of its main issues is that it’s a very energy intensive process, with the majority of electricity it uses stemming from fossil fuels. Not only does this completely hinder DAC’s environmental impact, but it also makes it extremely expensive.

The goal of Eco Capture is to allieviate the previously mentioned problems and create a more effective option for atmospheric CO2 removal. The question is however, how exactly do we plan on doing that? The answer lies in MXene (Max-ene) membranes, which have the potential to completely revolutionize gas seperation and collection.

In May of 2024, Zayna Dilawar and I came up with the idea for Eco Capture as a part of TKS’s end of the year moonshot project. For this, we were asked to come up with an innovative solution to a major world problem, which we decided to focus on climate change and the current faults of DAC.

If you want to learn more about this project, click here to check out its website :)