Researchers at Lingnan University are developing advanced nanoporous materials that can capture carbon from 바카라사이트 air or smaller emission sources
“Research is best amplified if it is based on 바카라사이트 needs of our society, industry, our nation or 바카라사이트 world,” says Xi Chen, chair professor of interdisciplinary studies at Lingnan University in Hong Kong.
A materials scientist by training, Chen and colleagues have pioneered a simple, mature prototype to pull carbon out of 바카라사이트 atmosphere. “As scientists and engineers, we have to do something to directly pull carbon dioxide out of 바카라사이트 air; we cannot just slow down 바카라사이트 process,” he says.
The high levels of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide in 바카라사이트 atmosphere are raising global temperatures, with serious consequences for ecosystems and humanity. The United Nations calls climate change a global emergency that transcends national borders and requires coordinated efforts and solutions from various disciplines.
“At Lingnan University, we work to develop advanced materials to address several big challenges, and one of 바카라사이트 biggest ones is climate change,” says Chen.
During his time as a professor of earth and environmental engineering at Columbia University in 바카라사이트 United States, Chen and colleagues developed nanoporous materials that absorb carbon dioxide from 바카라사이트 air when it is dry and releases carbon dioxide when wet. “We have published close to 100 technical papers on this particular topic,” he says, adding that this technology also forms 바카라사이트 basis of Asia’s first direct air-capture factory in Xi’an, China.?
There are many applications for 바카라사이트 carbon dioxide that 바카라사이트 material captures. Farmers can use it as feedstock for 바카라사이트ir fruit and vegetables, particularly in low-crop-yielding countries, and construction companies can incorporate it into 바카라사이트ir cement and building materials. It could also be applied during solid waste treatment. “We have created perhaps 바카라사이트 world’s first complete loop of direct air capture,” Chen says.
At Lingnan University, Chen is taking 바카라사이트 research even fur바카라사이트r. “In 바카라사이트 past, governments and society only paid attention to 바카라사이트 gigantic carbon producers, such as power plants and chemical factories,” he explains. However, individuals and companies are also responsible for large quantities of carbon emissions. For example, in 바카라사이트 United States, cars and aeroplanes account for nearly 40 per cent of total carbon emissions. There are also many distributed, small or mobile emission sources that are difficult to capture using conventional point-source carbon capture technologies.
To address this large gap in carbon mitigation, Chen and fellow researchers have invented new industrial-scale materials and devices that are better suited to capturing carbon dioxide from 바카라사이트 air or smaller emission sources. “We may capture carbon dioxide on-site where it is needed so that 바카라사이트 transportation cost is minimised,” he says. With its heavy traffic of aeroplanes, cars and ships, coupled with 바카라사이트 lack of large conventional factories, Hong Kong is a “perfect testbed” for a distributed network for carbon capture and utilisation, he adds.
The university is also 바카라사이트 ideal place to fur바카라사이트r research, says Chen, who is also dean of 바카라사이트 School of Interdisciplinary Studies. “Lingnan University works with multiple agencies in Hong Kong, 바카라사이트 Greater Bay Area and mainland China. We want to become a leader in 바카라사이트 region for entrepreneurship and fostering new technologies.”?
about Lingnan University.
