A unique crystalline compound soaks up CO2 with great efficiency
This story was produced in partnership with the Pulitzer Center's Ocean Reporting Network. Scientists and engineers are developing big machines to suck carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere, but the technology sucks up a lot of energy and money as well—as much as $1,000 per metric ton of captured CO 2 . Chemists at the University of California, Berkeley, have created a yellow powder they claim could boost this field by absorbing CO 2 much more efficiently. Detailed climate projections indicate the world will need to remove far more CO 2 than it is doing now to achieve climate targets. The U.S. is investing billions of dollars in start-ups developing direct air capture (DAC) technology, which uses fans to blow air through alkaline materials that bond with the slightly acidic CO 2 . Along with lye and crushed limestone, a popular alkaline material is an amine, a compound that is typically manufactured from ammonia. On supporting science journalism If you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today. Graduate student Zihui Zhou and professor Omar Yaghi, both at U.C.…