Future Perspective On Materials, Electrochemistry, and Cell Concepts for Redox-Mediated CO2 Direct Air Capture Scenarios

[Geoengineering News]

https://chemistry-europe.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/ceur.202500236

Authors: Tilmann J. Neubert, Martin Oschatz

First published: 11 September 2025

https://doi.org/10.1002/ceur.202500236

Graphical Abstract

Direct air capture (DAC) of carbon dioxide (CO2) emerges as a key strategy for climate crisis mitigation. Redox-mediated electrochemical carbon capture offers a promising route for energy-efficient DAC. This perspective discusses recent advances in the field, highlighting key challenges, such as oxygen interference at low CO2 concentrations, and outlines future directions for scalable, sustainable electrochemically mediated DAC.

Abstract

Anthropogenic emissions of previously sequestered carbon continue to disrupt the natural carbon cycle, driving atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) concentrations beyond 420 ppm. This has resulted in global temperatures rising beyond 1.5 °C above the pre-industrial level. Direct air capture (DAC) of CO2 has emerged as a complementary mitigation strategy. However, current DAC technologies are limited by the high energy requirements inherent to the thermal release of captured CO2, which are caused by the low thermodynamic efficiency of heat-driven processes, as constrained by Carnot principles. Redox-mediated electrochemical carbon capture (RMECC) offers a promising pathway to overcome these limitations. RMECC with DAC application remains in an early developmental stage and requires further optimization to enable energy-efficient, cost-effective, and scalable deployment. In this perspective the design of sorbents, electrolytes, and electrochemical cell configurations in the field of RMECC are discussed with an emphasis on sustainable approaches for the demands of DAC applications. The challenges arising from the atmospheric dilution of CO2 within the more abundant and disruptive competitor oxygen are highlighted as a critical factor influencing sorbent performance. Recent advancements in RMECC are reviewed, key challenges are identified, and future directions are outlined to accelerate electrochemically mediated DAC towards practical implementation.

Source: Chemistry Europe