A team of researchers at the University of Houston, led by Professor Mim Rahimi of the Cullen College of Engineering, has achieved two significant breakthroughs in carbon capture technology. These advancements aim to reduce the cost of capturing harmful emissions from power plants, marking a major step in addressing climate change.
The first breakthrough, published in Nature Communications, introduces a membraneless electrochemical process that reduces energy requirements for amine-based CO₂ capture. By replacing the conventional ion-exchange membrane with gas diffusion electrodes, the team achieved over 90% CO₂ removal efficiency—nearly 50% higher than traditional electrochemically mediated amine regeneration (EMAR) methods. The innovation lowers capture costs to about $70 per metric ton of CO₂, making it competitive with state-of-the-art amine scrubbing methods. (Source: https://www.egr.uh.edu/news/202508/uh-researchers-unveil-breakthrough-carbon-capture)
The second breakthrough, featured on the cover of ES&T Engineering, demonstrates a vanadium redox flow system capable of both capturing carbon and storing renewable energy. This reversible flow battery architecture absorbs CO₂ during charging and releases it upon discharge, leveraging vanadium chemistry to provide strong cycle stability and high capture capacity. The dual-function system could help power plants and industrial facilities reduce emissions while supporting intermittent renewable energy sources. (Source: https://www.egr.uh.edu/news/202508/uh-researchers-unveil-breakthrough-carbon-capture)
The researchers say these discoveries reflect a commitment to fundamental electrochemical innovation and real-world applicability, with the goal of decarbonizing hard-to-abate sectors and supporting the transition to a low-carbon economy.