The Bill Zhang
Group at Peking University.
北京大学张子帅课题组

Carbon capture and conversion technologies involve capturing carbon dioxide emissions from industrial processes or power generation and converting them into valuable products, such as fuel, chemicals, or construction materials, rather than releasing them into the atmosphere.

The integration of these technologies can help reduce the overall carbon footprint of a variety of industries, including fossil fuel-based power plants, cement production, and steel manufacturing. By capturing carbon dioxide emissions before they are released into the atmosphere and converting them into useful products, the carbon can be kept out of the atmosphere for longer periods of time, contributing to global efforts to mitigate climate change.

Long-term carbon storage is a critical strategy to address climate change, and mineralization is one promising approach for achieving it. Mineralization involves the conversion of carbon dioxide into stable minerals through a chemical reaction with naturally occurring minerals, such as olivine or serpentine. This process can occur naturally over long periods of time, but it can also be accelerated through various technologies, such as mineral carbonation or enhanced weathering.

The advantage of mineralization is that the resulting mineralized carbon dioxide is stable and essentially permanent, remaining locked up in the mineral matrix for geological timescales. This makes it a reliable and long-term method for carbon storage.

The development of hydrogen as a renewable energy and low-carbon solution requires extensive research and innovation. Despite its potential, hydrogen faces several technical and economic challenges that need to be addressed to scale up its production and use.

Investing in research and development is crucial to overcome these challenges and unlock the full potential of hydrogen. Research can help improve the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of hydrogen production, storage, and transportation, as well as enhance the performance and durability of hydrogen technologies, such as fuel cells.

Electrolyzers are devices that use an electric current to drive a chemical reaction that breaks down a substance into its constituent elements or compounds. They are used in a wide range of applications, from the production of hydrogen gas to the extraction of metals from ores. Electrolyzer design is an important aspect of developing efficient and effective electrolysis systems.