Photochemical CO2 Capture and Release in Water Enabled By Photoacid Under Visible Light

The urgency to address climate change and its environmental consequences demands the development of effective carbon capture technologies. The relationship between rising global temperatures and increased atmospheric CO2 levels necessitates innovative approaches for mitigating this critical issue. Here, we present a novel photochemical strategy utilizing photoacids in an aqueous bicarbonate buffer system for reversible carbon capture and release. We investigated the photochemical modulation of hydrophilic pyranine as a model photoacid, showcasing its ability to facilitate the capture and release CO2. Control experiments provided evidence of the photoacid effect and its contribution to CO2 release, complemented by the photothermal effect. Cyclic experiments demonstrate the efficiency and reliability of the photochemical carbon capture strategy across multiple cycles. In addition, we explored the potential use of meta-stable state photoacids for this purpose. This research introduces possibilities for the advancement of photochemical carbon capture systems, offering promising avenues for addressing the challenges associated with climate change.