3D Printed Polymer Composites for CO₂ Capture

We have developed polymer composite inks that may be three-dimensionally (3D) printed to produce new reactor designs for CO₂ capture. These inks are composed of solid sodium carbonate particles dispersed within an uncured silicone and are printed using direct ink writing (DIW). After printing, the silicone is cured, and the structures are hydrated to form aqueous sodium carbonate domains dispersed throughout the silicone. These domains enable high CO₂ absorption rates by creating domains with a high surface area of the solvent per unit volume in the printed structures. These results demonstrate an order-of-magnitude improvement in CO₂ absorption rates relative to a liquid pool of sodium carbonate. The results from this class of composite inks demonstrate the potential for the use of 3D printing to shape new and advanced CO₂ capture reactors.