Advances in Carbon-Based Aerogels for CO<sub>2</sub> Capture: Fundamental Design Strategies and Technological Progress

Carbon-based aerogels have garnered significant attention for CO<sub>2</sub> capture owing to their low-cost precursors, tunable structures, and high porosity. Their performance in CO<sub>2</sub> adsorption is intricately linked to their microstructural and textural features,...

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Main Authors: Shakila Parveen Asrafali, Thirukumaran Periyasamy, Gazi A. K. M. Rafiqul Bari
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-05-01
Series:Gels
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2310-2861/11/5/361
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author Shakila Parveen Asrafali
Thirukumaran Periyasamy
Gazi A. K. M. Rafiqul Bari
author_facet Shakila Parveen Asrafali
Thirukumaran Periyasamy
Gazi A. K. M. Rafiqul Bari
author_sort Shakila Parveen Asrafali
collection DOAJ
description Carbon-based aerogels have garnered significant attention for CO<sub>2</sub> capture owing to their low-cost precursors, tunable structures, and high porosity. Their performance in CO<sub>2</sub> adsorption is intricately linked to their microstructural and textural features, including pore size distribution, surface area, and surface chemistry. Micropores (<2 nm) are particularly effective due to their size compatibility with CO<sub>2</sub> molecules, while surface functional groups enhance adsorption through hydrogen bonding and electrostatic interactions. Strategic design approaches have focused on tailoring these properties to optimize CO<sub>2</sub> uptake under realistic conditions. This review provides a comprehensive overview of recent advancements in the structural engineering of carbon aerogels, emphasizing the role of hierarchical porosity and heteroatom doping (nitrogen, oxygen, sulfur, etc.) in enhancing adsorption capacity and selectivity. Experimental and theoretical studies have highlighted how the synergistic control of microstructure and surface chemistry leads to superior adsorption performance. Furthermore, this review identifies current challenges, such as limited structural stability and insufficient mechanistic understanding, which hinder further progress. Future research directions are proposed, including advanced pore architecture control, functional group engineering, and the integration of in situ characterization techniques. Overall, this review serves as a guide for the rational design of next-generation carbon-based aerogels tailored for efficient and scalable CO<sub>2</sub> capture technologies.
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spelling doaj-art-b2521ae9e82a4e6e8af146eca2477a3a2025-08-20T01:56:28ZengMDPI AGGels2310-28612025-05-0111536110.3390/gels11050361Advances in Carbon-Based Aerogels for CO<sub>2</sub> Capture: Fundamental Design Strategies and Technological ProgressShakila Parveen Asrafali0Thirukumaran Periyasamy1Gazi A. K. M. Rafiqul Bari2Department of Fiber System Engineering, Yeungnam University, 280 Daehak-Ro, Gyeongsan 38541, Gyeongbuk, Republic of KoreaDepartment of Fiber System Engineering, Yeungnam University, 280 Daehak-Ro, Gyeongsan 38541, Gyeongbuk, Republic of KoreaDepartment of Mechanical Engineering, Gachon University, 1342 Seongnam-daero, Sujeong-gu, Seongnam-si 13120, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of KoreaCarbon-based aerogels have garnered significant attention for CO<sub>2</sub> capture owing to their low-cost precursors, tunable structures, and high porosity. Their performance in CO<sub>2</sub> adsorption is intricately linked to their microstructural and textural features, including pore size distribution, surface area, and surface chemistry. Micropores (<2 nm) are particularly effective due to their size compatibility with CO<sub>2</sub> molecules, while surface functional groups enhance adsorption through hydrogen bonding and electrostatic interactions. Strategic design approaches have focused on tailoring these properties to optimize CO<sub>2</sub> uptake under realistic conditions. This review provides a comprehensive overview of recent advancements in the structural engineering of carbon aerogels, emphasizing the role of hierarchical porosity and heteroatom doping (nitrogen, oxygen, sulfur, etc.) in enhancing adsorption capacity and selectivity. Experimental and theoretical studies have highlighted how the synergistic control of microstructure and surface chemistry leads to superior adsorption performance. Furthermore, this review identifies current challenges, such as limited structural stability and insufficient mechanistic understanding, which hinder further progress. Future research directions are proposed, including advanced pore architecture control, functional group engineering, and the integration of in situ characterization techniques. Overall, this review serves as a guide for the rational design of next-generation carbon-based aerogels tailored for efficient and scalable CO<sub>2</sub> capture technologies.https://www.mdpi.com/2310-2861/11/5/361aerogelcarbonmicrostructureporous carbonCO<sub>2</sub> capture
spellingShingle Shakila Parveen Asrafali
Thirukumaran Periyasamy
Gazi A. K. M. Rafiqul Bari
Advances in Carbon-Based Aerogels for CO<sub>2</sub> Capture: Fundamental Design Strategies and Technological Progress
Gels
aerogel
carbon
microstructure
porous carbon
CO<sub>2</sub> capture
title Advances in Carbon-Based Aerogels for CO<sub>2</sub> Capture: Fundamental Design Strategies and Technological Progress
title_full Advances in Carbon-Based Aerogels for CO<sub>2</sub> Capture: Fundamental Design Strategies and Technological Progress
title_fullStr Advances in Carbon-Based Aerogels for CO<sub>2</sub> Capture: Fundamental Design Strategies and Technological Progress
title_full_unstemmed Advances in Carbon-Based Aerogels for CO<sub>2</sub> Capture: Fundamental Design Strategies and Technological Progress
title_short Advances in Carbon-Based Aerogels for CO<sub>2</sub> Capture: Fundamental Design Strategies and Technological Progress
title_sort advances in carbon based aerogels for co sub 2 sub capture fundamental design strategies and technological progress
topic aerogel
carbon
microstructure
porous carbon
CO<sub>2</sub> capture
url https://www.mdpi.com/2310-2861/11/5/361
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AT thirukumaranperiyasamy advancesincarbonbasedaerogelsforcosub2subcapturefundamentaldesignstrategiesandtechnologicalprogress
AT gaziakmrafiqulbari advancesincarbonbasedaerogelsforcosub2subcapturefundamentaldesignstrategiesandtechnologicalprogress