Enhancing carbon dioxide capture and its electrochemical reduction with the development of MOFs/COFs and 2D borophene-based supercapacitors (COMET)

Project Description

COMET aims to develop innovative supercapacitor materials integrating metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), covalent organic frameworks (COFs), and 2D borophene for efficient CO₂ capture and electrochemical reduction (CO2RR) to value-added products like methanol. MOFs (e.g., Cu-MOF-74, ZIF-67) and COFs (e.g., EB-COF:Br) will be synthesized via hydrothermal/solvothermal and solvothermal self-assembly methods, respectively, optimizing pore sizes (5–10 Å) and transition metal sites (Cu, Bi) for selective CO₂ adsorption and high catalytic activity for CO₂RR. Borophene nanosheets, produced via liquid-phase exfoliation of bulk boron in green solvents, will enhance conductivity and electron transfer. Hybrid MOF/COF composites will be fabricated through π-π stacking interactions, while supercapacitor electrodes will be engineered via electrospinning (poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene) fibers) drop-casting, or electrodeposition onto carbon cloth/nickel foam substrates. 

Key innovations include coupling MOFs/COFs’ high surface area with borophene’s metallic conductivity, enabling simultaneous capture and in-situ CO₂RR. Advanced characterization (SEM, TEM, XPS, XRD) will validate material morphology, crystallinity, and redox mechanisms. CO₂ capture capacity will be evaluated via adsorption isotherms (25°C, 1 atm), with supercapacitive swing adsorption (SSA) enabling energy-efficient CO₂ capture and CO₂ release.

This work addresses Ireland’s Climate Action Plan by offering a dual-function solution to decarbonize energy-intensive sectors, leveraging renewable energy for scalable, carbon-neutral systems. The integration of capture and conversion technologies aims to bypass costly CO₂ storage, aligning with SEAI’s mission to advance sustainable energy innovations and decarbonisation of the environment. Expected outcomes include high-efficiency supercapacitors (high stability) that can capture CO₂, while also facilitating its reduction and conversion of value-added products.