Large-Scale Electrosynthesis of Carbon Nano-Onions from CO2 as a Potential Replacement for Carbon Black

Graphite and carbon black are major global commodities whose production generates substantial CO _2 emissions. Carbon nano-onions (CNOs), consisting of concentric graphene spheres with enhanced properties due to their unique morphology, represent a promising next-generation material. This study pres...

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Main Authors: Kyle Hofstetter, Gad Licht, Stuart Licht
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: IOP Publishing 2025-01-01
Series:ECS Advances
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1149/2754-2734/adeda4
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author Kyle Hofstetter
Gad Licht
Stuart Licht
author_facet Kyle Hofstetter
Gad Licht
Stuart Licht
author_sort Kyle Hofstetter
collection DOAJ
description Graphite and carbon black are major global commodities whose production generates substantial CO _2 emissions. Carbon nano-onions (CNOs), consisting of concentric graphene spheres with enhanced properties due to their unique morphology, represent a promising next-generation material. This study presents a scalable, low-cost, carbon-negative electrosynthesis of CNOs directly from greenhouse CO _2 . Electrolysis is performed in molten lithium and lithium/strontium carbonate mixtures near their melting points, which suppresses transition metal-catalyzed Carbon NanoTube (CNT) formation, favoring uniform CNO growth. The method offers an efficient pathway for sustainable carbon nanomaterial production and CO _2 utilization.
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series ECS Advances
spelling doaj-art-e079a07007bb466084e0f96c73f76d602025-08-20T03:56:05ZengIOP PublishingECS Advances2754-27342025-01-014303100110.1149/2754-2734/adeda4Large-Scale Electrosynthesis of Carbon Nano-Onions from CO2 as a Potential Replacement for Carbon BlackKyle Hofstetter0Gad Licht1Stuart Licht2https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8273-2875Carbon Corp, Calgary, AB T2A 6K8, CanadaC2CNT LLC, Venice, Florida 34275, United States of AmericaCarbon Corp, Calgary, AB T2A 6K8, Canada; C2CNT LLC, Venice, Florida 34275, United States of America; Dept. of Chemistry, George Washington University , Washington DC 20052, United States of AmericaGraphite and carbon black are major global commodities whose production generates substantial CO _2 emissions. Carbon nano-onions (CNOs), consisting of concentric graphene spheres with enhanced properties due to their unique morphology, represent a promising next-generation material. This study presents a scalable, low-cost, carbon-negative electrosynthesis of CNOs directly from greenhouse CO _2 . Electrolysis is performed in molten lithium and lithium/strontium carbonate mixtures near their melting points, which suppresses transition metal-catalyzed Carbon NanoTube (CNT) formation, favoring uniform CNO growth. The method offers an efficient pathway for sustainable carbon nanomaterial production and CO _2 utilization.https://doi.org/10.1149/2754-2734/adeda4
spellingShingle Kyle Hofstetter
Gad Licht
Stuart Licht
Large-Scale Electrosynthesis of Carbon Nano-Onions from CO2 as a Potential Replacement for Carbon Black
ECS Advances
title Large-Scale Electrosynthesis of Carbon Nano-Onions from CO2 as a Potential Replacement for Carbon Black
title_full Large-Scale Electrosynthesis of Carbon Nano-Onions from CO2 as a Potential Replacement for Carbon Black
title_fullStr Large-Scale Electrosynthesis of Carbon Nano-Onions from CO2 as a Potential Replacement for Carbon Black
title_full_unstemmed Large-Scale Electrosynthesis of Carbon Nano-Onions from CO2 as a Potential Replacement for Carbon Black
title_short Large-Scale Electrosynthesis of Carbon Nano-Onions from CO2 as a Potential Replacement for Carbon Black
title_sort large scale electrosynthesis of carbon nano onions from co2 as a potential replacement for carbon black
url https://doi.org/10.1149/2754-2734/adeda4
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AT gadlicht largescaleelectrosynthesisofcarbonnanoonionsfromco2asapotentialreplacementforcarbonblack
AT stuartlicht largescaleelectrosynthesisofcarbonnanoonionsfromco2asapotentialreplacementforcarbonblack