Breakthrough in Carbon Capture and Utilization: Taiyuan University of Technology Develops Novel Sodium-Gallium Liquid Metal System

Scientists at the Taiyuan University of Technology have made a significant discovery in the field of sustainability research, developing a novel sodium-gallium liquid metal system capable of efficiently reducing carbon dioxide to solid carbon under mild reaction conditions at ambient pressure. This breakthrough has the potential to play a crucial role in achieving carbon neutrality and has been peer-reviewed for publication in the Journal of Colloid and Interface Science.

The new approach, presented by researchers Tao Feng, Yu An, Zhuohao Liu, Haozhi Zhao, Chao Qin, Gang Li, and Kaiying Wang, involves the use of a sodium-gallium liquid metal system that can efficiently reduce CO2 to solid carbon at 600°C and ambient pressure. The resulting solid carbon demonstrates exceptional electrochemical performance as an electrode material and can be readily separated from the alloy surface. Additionally, the liquid metal can be efficiently recovered through an acid-washing process, enabling reuse and enhancing resource utilization.

Compared to traditional methods, this innovative approach offers crucial scientific and technical support for developing cost-effective and scalable carbon-neutrality technologies with potential applications in energy storage and industrial sustainability.

Key Takeaways:

• Researchers at the Taiyuan University of Technology have developed a novel sodium-gallium liquid metal system capable of efficiently reducing CO2 to solid carbon under mild reaction conditions at ambient pressure.
• The system uses Na dissolved in liquid Ga to avoid direct contact with air, ensuring the stability of the reaction.
• At 600°C and ambient pressure, approximately 1 mg of solid carbon is generated for every 5 mg of Na consumed.
• Density functional theory (DFT) calculations reveal the role of Na-Ga alloys in facilitating CO bond cleavage.
• The resulting solid carbon demonstrates exceptional electrochemical performance as an electrode material and can be readily separated from the alloy surface.
• The liquid metal can be efficiently recovered through an acid-washing process, enabling reuse and enhancing resource utilization.
• This innovative approach offers crucial scientific and technical support for developing cost-effective and scalable carbon-neutrality technologies with potential applications in energy storage and industrial sustainability.

Statistics:

• 1 mg of solid carbon is generated for every 5 mg of Na consumed.
• 600°C is the temperature at which the reaction occurs.
• Ambient pressure is the pressure at which the reaction occurs.

Sources:

• "Sodium-gallium liquid metal enables mild-condition carbon dioxide conversion to solid carbon for sustainable electrode materials." Journal of Colloid and Interface Science, 2025;698:138025.
• Researcher Tao Feng, Institute of Energy Innovation, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Taiyuan University of Technology, Taiyuan 030024, People's Republic of China.
• Additional authors: Yu An, Zhuohao Liu, Haozhi Zhao, Chao Qin, Gang Li, and Kaiying Wang.
• Publisher contact information: Academic Press Inc Elsevier Science, 525 B St, Ste 1900, San Diego, CA 92101-4495, USA.