Researchers in South Korea have reported a carbon capture development using laser-based processing to enhance the performance of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), a class of porous materials widely studied for gas separation.
A team led by the Korea Institute of Materials Science, working with Kyungpook National University and Yeungnam University, developed a technique that restructures defects within MOFs, increasing carbon dioxide (CO2) adsorption capacity by up to 75%.
MOFs are known for their high surface area and tunable pore structures, making them suitable for separating gases such as CO2 and methane. However, defects formed during synthesis often result in irregular pore distributions, limiting performance.
To address this, the researchers introduced a laser-induced post-processing method known as laser-induced porosity engineering.
Rather than removing defects through chemical or thermal treatment, the process uses rapid heating and cooling from laser irradiation to reorganise them.
This restructuring reduces larger, less effective pores and promotes the formation of smaller pores better suited to CO2 adsorption.
Experimental results showed that the treated materials achieved up to a 94% increase in surface area, alongside the 75% improvement in CO2 capture performance. The process also improved gas selectivity, enabling more efficient separation in mixed gas streams.
Unlike conventional approaches, which can involve complex processing steps and risk damaging material stability, the laser-based method avoids additional chemical treatment. This could lower production costs and simplify manufacturing, according to the team.
Schematic diagram illustrating the pore structure transformation mechanism of metal–organic frameworks (MOFs). (Source: KIMS)
The researchers said the technique is compatible with low-energy, large-area processing, suggesting potential for industrial-scale deployment.
Beyond carbon capture, researchers said the approach could be applied to other gas separation processes, including natural gas purification, hydrogen production, and methane separation.
The study was supported by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and the National Research Foundation of Korea, with findings published in the journal Small.
MOFs had a moment in the spotlight last year when a team of researchers was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for their discovery and development work on MOFs in the 1990s.
Other innovations include , which have been advanced by UK-based Immaterial.
Immaterial’s projects have demonstrated capture performance comparable to or exceeding existing technologies with lower capex and opex, which is key for hard to abate sectors.
“We can reach carbon dioxide purity levels above 95% and recovery above 95%,” founder David Fairen-Jimenez told gasworld last year. “In terms of cost, where amines capture CO2 at €100 to €120 per tonne, we can go down to around €40.”
