About This Project
Rising CO₂ levels are a major driver of climate change, and cutting emissions isn't enough—we need to remove CO₂ already in the air. Direct air capture (DAC) can do this, but it requires better materials to be truly effective. This research focuses on creating novel porous materials that can capture and hold onto CO₂ more efficiently. By using a new active adsorption, CO₂ removal is made more practical and affordable, providing a powerful tool in the fight against climate change.
Ask the Scientists
Join The DiscussionWhat is the context of this research?
The urgency to mitigate climate change has brought CO₂ removal to the forefront of research. While point-source carbon capture has been explored, it alone cannot reverse atmospheric CO₂ accumulation. Recent studies highlight direct air capture (DAC) as a promising approach to draw down existing CO₂ levels. However, DAC faces challenges due to CO₂'s low atmospheric concentration (~400 ppm), requiring highly selective and regenerative materials. Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) show promise due to their tunable structures and very high CO₂ affinity. Inspired by their potential, this project aims to create MOF-based adsorbents with high stability and efficiency. This approach has high potential to scale and could make DAC more viable on a gigatonne scale, aligning with 2050 net-zero targets.
What is the significance of this project?
The significance of this project is its timely response to the climate crisis by offering a novel approach to CO₂ removal. Current efforts to reduce emissions alone are not enough; we need to actively capture and remove CO₂ from the air. This research focuses on designing cheap MOF adsorbents that are selective, easily regenerative, and capable of high-capacity CO₂ capture at atmospheric concentrations. The project also addresses key technical barriers, such as stability and regeneration, essential for long-term large-scale deployment. By combining advanced synthesis, theory, and characterization, this project aims to develop the next-generation adsorbents required for low-energy, low-cost DAC, making gigaton-scale CO₂ removal a realistic solution to our urgent climate challenges.
What are the goals of the project?
The goals of this project are threefold:
- Develop Advanced MOF Adsorbents: Create metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) with a protective coating that can selectively capture and retain CO₂ at low atmospheric concentrations, enhancing their stability and efficiency.
- Enhance Regeneration and Durability: Optimize the MOFs for easy regeneration and long-term use, ensuring they can withstand repeated CO₂ capture cycles without degradation.
- Scale for Practical Use: Demonstrate the potential for these MOFs to be scaled up for gigaton-level CO₂ removal, making direct air capture (DAC) more energy-efficient and cost-effective, thus providing a viable tool to mitigate climate change.
Budget
Project Timeline: 02/01/2025 – 01/31/2026
PERSONNEL
One Postdoc Associate will assist Dr. Feng with the synthesis of porous metal-organic framework materials and the measurement of carbon capture performance including their stability and recyclability. One PhD Graduate Student will assist to study the scale-up production of the materials for direct air capture applications.
FRINGE BENEFITS
Funds are requested at the Duke University non-federal rates of 26.9% in FY 24/25 and 28.2% in FY 25/26.
MATERIALS, SUPPLIES , AND TESTING
Funds are budgeted at $6,000 to purchase materials and conduct testing required for the study of carbon-capture MOF materials. Due to the research nature of the project, costs are estimated based on the PI’s knowledge of prior projects of similar scope.
DIRECT COSTS: $50,000
TOTAL: $50,000
Project Timeline
Proposed 02/01/2025 – 01/31/2026
Months 1-4: Synthesize coated MOFs with a focus on high CO₂ capture capacity. Perform initial characterization to assess material stability and selectivity.
Months 5-7: Optimize MOF adsorbents for regeneration and durability. Evaluate their performance under simulated atmospheric conditions.
Months 8-11: Scale up synthesis process and conduct pilot-scale testing.
Months 11-12: Finalize analysis, prepare a report, and deliver a scalable MOF adsorbent.
Mar 31, 2025
MOF Synthesis and Coating: Synthesize the initial batch of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) and apply the coating. Validate their stability and CO₂ capture ability.
May 31, 2025
Initial Performance Testing: Conduct preliminary tests to evaluate CO₂ capture capacity and regeneration performance under simulated conditions.
Aug 31, 2025
Optimization of Adsorbent Properties: Refine the synthesis process to enhance the MOFs' stability and regeneration efficiency. Perform repeated cycles to confirm durability.
Dec 31, 2025
Scale-up and Pilot Testing: Scale up the synthesis process for larger batches and test in a small-scale setup to assess energy efficiency and cost-effectiveness.
Jan 31, 2026
Prototype Delivery and Final Review: Deliver a prototype MOF adsorbent and share final results, including a roadmap for scaling up to gigaton-level CO₂ removal.
Meet the Team
Team Bio
Feng Group is an interdisciplinary research team in the Thomas Lord Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science at Duke University. The team currently has 4 postdoctoral fellows, 2 PhD students, and 3 undergraduate students. Feng Group is part of the Duke Climate Commitment, a university-wide initiative to address the climate crisis. Feng teaches undergraduate & graduate course, Carbon Capture and Utilization, exploring carbon science and innovative net-zero technologies.
Liang Feng
Liang Feng is an Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science at Duke University. He earned his PhD in 2020 from Texas A&M University. As a postdoctoral researcher at Northwestern University (2020 - 2023), he worked with Prof. Fraser Stoddart (2016 Nobel Laureate in Chemistry) to explore non-equilibrium materials and their energy applications. On board with Duke in just one year, he and his team have delivered many successes related to carbon capture and sustainability: (1) Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E), US Department of Energy, Early-Career Award (IGNIITE 2024); (2) American Chemical Society’s First Sustainability Star, featured by Chemical & Engineering News (C&EN); (3) Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, Scialog Collaborative Innovation Award; (4) ACS Green Chemistry Institute Grant for Greener Peptide Synthesis; (5) Scialog Fellow in Negative Emissions Science by Research Corporation for Science Advancement (RCSA); (6) Pratt Trailblazer by Duke University. Feng’s dedication to practical solutions and collaborative endeavors makes him a necessary member of the new generation of researchers solving the world’s greatest challenges.
Feng's research achievements have earned him numerous accolades, such as Forbes 30 Under 30 Honoree, MIT Technology Review Innovators Under 35 of China, International Adsorption Society Young Researcher Award, both MRS Postdoctoral and Graduate Student Awards, ACS PMSE Future Faculty Scholarship, Texas A&M University Association of Former Students 12 Under 12 Young Alumni Spotlight, Distinguished Graduate Student Award, and ACS COLL Victor K. LaMer Award Finalist, among others. His passion for the broader impact of research is evident in his roles as a DOE Early Career Network Representative, a CAS Future Leader, an ACS Younger Chemist Leadership Development Awardee, and a co-organizer of various diversity and career initiatives in energy science.
Lab Notes
Nothing posted yet.
Additional Information
Impact
This project represents a novel approach to direct air capture (DAC) by integrating advanced materials science with chemical engineering. Unlike existing adsorbents, the use of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) coated with polymers is unique in its ability to selectively capture CO₂ while enhancing stability and regeneration. This interdisciplinary approach combines materials synthesis, theoretical modeling, and advanced characterization techniques, ensuring a comprehensive solution. The approach is technically viable, grounded in well-established scientific principles, and builds on the proven potential of MOFs for CO₂ capture. With scalable production methods and a clear plan for deployment, this solution is poised for gigaton-level impact. By addressing key technical and market barriers, including cost and energy efficiency, this project aims to accelerate the adoption of DAC technologies. The experienced team and a structured project plan with defined milestones ensure feasibility and a clear path for advancing this technology post-project.
Capabilities
Duke University spans over 8,600 acres on three contiguous sub-campuses in Durham. Duke spends more than $1 billion per year on research, making it one of the ten largest research universities in the United States. Duke ranked No. 7 in the 2023-24 edition of the U.S. News and World Report Best National University rankings. The recent Duke Climate Commitment is a testament to Duke’s dedication to combating the climate crisis. Our research aligns with the Climate Commitment’s goals and actively contributes towards transforming energy and devising climate solutions.
Feng has published 63 peer-reviewed publications in high impact journals such as Science, Nature Chem., Nat. Rev. Chem., Nat. Protoc., and JACS in areas directly related to this proposal. Feng has a high h-index of 38 and total citations 7,776 at this early stage of his career. Feng has participated a wide range of DOE-supported projects related to carbon capture and climate. Feng Group has a dedicated synthetic section equipped with multiple fume hoods, Schlenk lines, vacuum pumps, a rotary evaporator, and other essential tools, each designed for precise and sensitive chemical procedures and also the synthesis of porous materials. Feng group has owned a wide range of gas adsorption equipment for low pressure analysis of synthesized porous materials, as well as gas separation analysis. Feng’s team has access to the facilities in Duke University Shared Materials Instrumentation Facility (SMIF) and Duke NMR Center for various characterization needs.
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