In Short

• It has the potential to replace the present DAC systems that require a lot of energy and heat.
• The technology requires just 3 volts, the same as charging a smartphone, to do the work.
• It is cheaper, scalable, and works well with renewable energy.

Korea Advanced Institute of Science & Technology (KAIST) has achieved a new breakthrough in partnership with MIT by developing a new type of Direct Air Capture (DAC) technology that can capture over 95% high-purity carbon dioxide directly from the air.

Their technology does not require large amounts of energy or hot steam and works using only low-voltage electricity (3V), equivalent to charging a smartphone.

In contrast, conventional DAC systems need high-temperature steam (over 100°C) to separate captured CO₂, accounting for about 70% of the total energy use, which makes them expensive, complex, and energy-hungry.

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What makes KAIST’s technology stand out is the introduction of conductive silver nanofibres that can heat themselves through Joule heating, similar to how an electric blanket works. They reduced unnecessary heat loss by around 20% and achieved faster adsorption–desorption cycles by heating only the fibres and not the whole system.

In just 80 seconds, the fibres can reach 110°C using only 3V input.

This results in a breathable conductive coating on the fibers, where the coating, made from silver nanowires and nanoparticles, is very thin—merely 3 micrometers thick, much thinner than a human hair.

The coating creates a 3D porous structure, which lets CO₂ molecules pass through easily and provides excellent electrical conductivity, enabling rapid heating and efficient CO₂ capture.

The system is scalable, too. By connecting multiple fibres in parallel, the resistance drops below 1 ohm, making it suitable for large-scale applications.

Under real atmospheric conditions, the system captured and recovered over 95% pure CO₂, indicating its potential for practical use.

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Not just that, the technology runs entirely on electricity, so it can be easily integrated with renewable energy sources like solar and wind, making it appealing to businesses pursuing RE100 goals and carbon-neutral operations.

Professor Dong-Yeun Koh of KAIST said: “Direct Air Capture (DAC) is not just a technology for reducing carbon dioxide emissions, but a key means of achieving ‘negative emissions’ by purifying the air itself.

“The conductive fiber-based DAC technology we developed can be applied not only to industrial sites but also to urban systems, significantly contributing to Korea’s leap as a leading nation in future DAC technologies.”

Ends/

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Source: KAIST