The Challenge of Water Competition in Physical Adsorption of CO₂ by Porous Solids for Carbon Capture Applications - A Short Perspective

With ever-increasing efforts to design sorbent materials to capture carbon dioxide from flue gas and air, this perspective article is provided based on nearly a decade of collaboration across science, engineering, and industry partners. A key point learned is that a holistic view of the carbon capture problem is critical. While researchers can be inclined to value their own fields and associated metrics, often, key parameters are those that enable synergy between materials and processes. While the role of water in the chemisorption of CO₂ is well-studied, in this perspective, it is hoped to highlight the often-overlooked but critical role of water in assessing the potential of a physical adsorbent for CO₂ capture. This is a challenge that requires interdisciplinarity. As such, this document is written for a general audience rather than experts in any specific discipline.