Plasma-Based CO₂ Capture and Conversion: Engineering a Low-Carbon Future

Energy consumption is expected to increase by 28% between 2015 and 2040, which is likely to result in a 16% rise in energy-related CO₂ emissions during the same period [1]. This trend highlights the urgent need for governments and industries worldwide to take decisive action to curb greenhouse gas emissions [2]. While carbon capture from point sources and direct air capture offers promising solutions, they continue to face significant hurdles such as high costs and reduced absorption efficiency [3]. In contrast, plasma technology presents an innovative approach; by generating energetic electrons, plasma can activate CO₂ molecules and foster the creation of new compounds without necessitating the heating of the entire gas mixture [5]. Our research has notably advanced this field by harnessing streamer plasma to convert CO₂ into useful products [6, 7]. In related work, we have also demonstrated how incorporating humidity can enhance the efficiency of CO₂ conversion processes [7].

Nevertheless, another study demonstrated the capture and conversion of CO₂ into CO using a plasma-ionic liquid combination [8,9]. We capture the CO₂ from the Air and convert it into CO with good conversion efficiency. Furthermore, we also performed a COMSOL Multiphysics simulation to identify the short radical species generated in the plasma.