Atomically Precise Nanostructures for Carbon Capture Active Sites
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current materials and technologies face challenges in achieving net-zero emissions and climate resilience due to limitations in designing and synthesizing atomically precise nanostructures with specific active sites for effective carbon capture and storage, as well as meeting demands for sustainable and energy-saving devices.
Innovation Solution
The development of atomically precise nanostructures with lattice structures formed by asymmetric units, including carbon and inorganic nanostructures, derived from complex materials like asphaltenes, which enable the synthesis of 2D non-carbon and complex oxide materials for applications in clean technologies such as carbon capture, energy storage, and climate mitigation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional materials and processing techniques are used, then existing demands for sustainable devices can be met to some extent, but net-zero emissions and climate resilience goals cannot be achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The invention segments complex materials into atomic-scale building blocks (asymmetric units) that self-assemble into precise nanostructures. This segmentation enables control over material properties at the atomic level, allowing design of structures with specific active sites for carbon capture while maintaining manufacturability through self-assembly processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the fundamental parameters of material design by transitioning from conventional bulk materials to atomically precise nanostructures with controlled lattice structures. By adjusting the composition and arrangement of asymmetric units at the atomic scale, the material achieves enhanced climate mitigation performance while remaining synthesizable from available feedstocks like asphaltenes.
2Manufacturing precision
If atomically precise nanostructures with specific active sites are designed, then carbon capture effectiveness is improved, but experimental methods to synthesize such compositions are not yet available
Solution Approach 1:
The invention employs self-assembly mechanisms where asymmetric units automatically organize into precise lattice structures with correctly positioned active sites. This self-service approach eliminates the need for complex external manipulation during synthesis, enabling atomic-scale precision to be achieved through spontaneous organizational processes rather than requiring unavailable advanced synthesis methods.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention creates composite nanostructures by combining different asymmetric units (containing C, H, S, N, O, and functional groups) into unified lattice structures. This composite approach allows diverse functional groups to be integrated into specific positions within the lattice, achieving precise active site positioning while using compositionally complex but experimentally accessible starting materials.
3Reliability
If novel materials are retrofitted into existing architecture, then climate safety and resilience are enhanced, but the complexity of integrating circularity strategies increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention designs atomically precise nanostructures with universal lattice structures that can be integrated into multiple existing architectural and industrial systems. The standardized asymmetric unit building blocks can form various lattice configurations suitable for different applications (carbon capture, energy storage, catalysis), reducing integration complexity across diverse systems while maintaining climate resilience benefits.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
These nanostructures facilitate efficient carbon capture and storage, enabling the production of climate-resilient materials and clean technologies that can achieve net-zero emissions, addressing the need for robust and sustainable solutions in various industrial sectors.
Implementation Method 1
atomically precise nanostructures comprising a network of one or more nanostructures having a lattice structure formed by (ASU)n
Implementation Method 2
The present invention relates to the adsorption of GHG gases
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention is a method for fabricating clean technology products. It discloses composition comprising: a network of one or more nanostructures having a lattice structure formed by (ASU)n, ASU is asymmetric unit, n>0, the one or more nanostructures of the present invention comprise a selection from the group consisting of 0D, 1D, 2D, carbon, inorganic, and any combinations thereof, the lattice structure of the present invention is selected from a cubic system, a rhombohedral system, an orthorhombic system, monoclinic system, and triclinic system, where ASU is selected from (HwTxLyMz) H is hydrogen, T is an alkaline metal, L is a chalcogen, O is oxygen, w>=0, x>=1, y>=1, z>=0.