Scientists named a new discovery a "cage of cages" due to its molecular structure to reduce greenhouse gas emissions that cause global warming. This porous polymer, developed by UK and Chinese researchers, may capture CO2 and other greenhouse gases.
The recent study, published in Nature Synthesis, advances the search for new climate change and pollution-fighting materials.
Scientists developed the material by synthesizing two steps from triangular prism building blocks to create bigger, more symmetrical tetrahedral cages, as reported by Science Alert. This one-of-a-kind molecular architecture traps greenhouse gases such as CO2. Experts noted that its water stability is also significant for industrial carbon capture procedures in wet or humid gas streams.
New Material Could Be The Answer to Climate Change
The study's principal author, Marc Little, a materials scientist at Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh, is excited about this discovery and stresses the need for innovative porous materials to solve societal issues like greenhouse gas reduction.
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change lists sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) as one of the most powerful greenhouse gases, and laboratories have shown that the material captures it well. CO2 stays in the atmosphere for 5-200 years, whereas SF6 lasts 800-3,200 years, leading to global warming.
Researchers stress the importance of large-scale CO2 and greenhouse gas removal to address climate change. Despite direct air capture, which only accounts for a fraction of essential carbon reductions, attempts to improve its efficiency and scalability continue.
The material's complicated manufacture highlights its molecular architecture. Researchers used supramolecular self-assembly to generate chemically linked structures from simpler building pieces. They solved complex molecular framework synthesis challenges by using simulations to predict molecular interactions and improve reaction conditions.
In addition to mitigating greenhouse gas emissions, this innovative material may remove airborne contaminants such as volatile organic compounds.
Little and colleagues hope this new cage-like material can help solve environmental issues, highlighting the study's importance for sustainable solutions.
Record-Breaking Temperatures Worry Experts
This innovation comes against the backdrop of worsening global climate conditions. TechTimes previously reported that the European Union Copernicus Climate Change Service recently declared April 2024 the warmest April ever. This hot trend extends 12 months of record-breaking temperatures.
Since June 2023, each month has broken temperature records, the longest consecutive streak of temperature anomalies in history. The 12-month worldwide average temperature reached an alarming 1.61 degrees Celsius over the pre-industrial baseline of 1850-1900.
Greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuel combustion worsen climate change and cause temperature extremes. Additionally, the El Niño phenomenon, marked by elevated eastern Pacific Ocean sea surface temperatures, has exacerbated heatwaves in several places.
In March, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) reported that greenhouse gas levels, surface temperatures, ocean heat and acidification, sea level rise, Antarctic sea ice cover, and glacier retreat have broken many records.
The WMO's State of the Global Climate 2023 report found that heatwaves, floods, droughts, wildfires, and intensifying tropical cyclones disrupted millions of lives and cost billions of dollars.
WMO Secretary-General Celeste noted that the Paris Agreement's 1.5-degree Celsius limit is approaching. She called the issue a global "red alert" to underscore its significance. She highlighted record-breaking ocean temperatures, glacier retreats, and Antarctic sea ice loss, highlighting the complexity of climate change.
