January 29, 2026 — Scientists have developed a novel electrode system capable of directly capturing carbon dioxide (CO₂) from exhaust gases and converting it into useful chemicals in a single step, without the need for costly CO₂ purification processes. This breakthrough could significantly improve the real-world viability of carbon capture and utilization (CCU), offering a new technological pathway for climate change mitigation.
Integrated CO₂ Capture and Conversion
Conventional carbon capture technologies typically involve multiple stages, beginning with the separation and purification of CO₂ from industrial emissions before downstream conversion. In a new study published in ACS Energy Letters, researchers present an electrode design that integrates “capture” and “conversion” into a single system, dramatically simplifying the overall process.
Electrode Architecture
The novel electrode consists of three functional layers that operate synergistically:
- Layer 1: A functional material with intrinsic CO₂ capture capability
- Layer 2: A porous carbon paper layer facilitating gas transport
- Layer 3: A catalytic layer composed of tin dioxide (SnO₂), which drives the CO₂ conversion reaction
When integrated, these three layers enable the system to extract CO₂ directly from exhaust streams and convert it in situ into formic acid.
Conversion Product: Formic Acid
The primary chemical product generated by the system is formic acid, a compound of high value in energy systems, chemical manufacturing, and potential fuel cell applications. By combining capture and conversion into a single step, overall energy consumption and system complexity can be substantially reduced.
Performance Under Realistic Conditions
Experimental results show that under pure CO₂ conditions, the electrode system achieves conversion efficiencies approximately 40% higher than existing technologies. More importantly, when tested using simulated exhaust gases containing CO₂, nitrogen, and oxygen, the system continued to produce substantial amounts of formic acid, whereas most conventional approaches showed little to no activity.
Operation at Low CO₂ Concentrations
The study further indicates that the device can operate under CO₂ concentrations approaching those found in ambient air. This suggests that its potential applications are not limited to large industrial point sources, but could extend to more distributed and lower-concentration carbon utilization scenarios.
Why This Breakthrough Matters
Formic acid is not only an important industrial feedstock, but is also regarded as a promising hydrogen carrier and fuel cell energy vector. Compared with conventional methods that require prior CO₂ purification, this integrated capture-and-conversion approach offers a more efficient and potentially lower-cost pathway for practical deployment.
Long-Term Implications for Carbon Utilization Technologies
The research team notes that this integrated strategy could lay the groundwork for future technologies that directly convert greenhouse gases into valuable chemicals, further reducing the environmental footprint of industrial activities and strengthening the viability of a circular carbon economy.
Funding and Publication
This research was supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea, and the full findings have been published in the international journal ACS Energy Letters, representing a significant advance in electrochemical carbon capture and utilization technologies.