Efficient amino-acid-based reactive capture of CO2 via nickel molecular catalyst

Zunmin Guo, Feng Li, Yurou Celine Xiao, Sung-Fu Hung, Ying-Rui Lu, Amir Foroozan, Jieyuan Liu, Siyu Sonia Sun, Shijie Liu, Yuxuan Che, Qiyou Wang, Min Liu, Cai Wang, Yuke Li, Kang-Shun Peng, Yu-Cheng Liu, Mengyang Fan, Zahra Azimi Dijvejin, Panagiotis Papangelakis, Yong Wang, Ali Shayesteh Zeraati, Kai Han, Paul Corbett, Drew Higgins, Rui Kai Miao () and David Sinton ()
Additional contact information
Zunmin Guo: University of Toronto, Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering
Feng Li: University of Toronto, Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering
Yurou Celine Xiao: University of Toronto, Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering
Sung-Fu Hung: National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Department of Applied Chemistry
Ying-Rui Lu: National Synchrotron Radiation Research Center
Amir Foroozan: McMaster University, Department of Chemical Engineering
Jieyuan Liu: University of Toronto, Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering
Siyu Sonia Sun: University of Toronto, Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering
Shijie Liu: University of Toronto, Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering
Yuxuan Che: University of Toronto, Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering
Qiyou Wang: University of Toronto, Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering
Min Liu: University of Toronto, Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering
Cai Wang: University of Toronto, Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering
Yuke Li: University of Toronto, Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering
Kang-Shun Peng: National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Department of Applied Chemistry
Yu-Cheng Liu: National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Department of Applied Chemistry
Mengyang Fan: University of Toronto, Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering
Zahra Azimi Dijvejin: University of Toronto, Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering
Panagiotis Papangelakis: University of Toronto, Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering
Yong Wang: University of Toronto, Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering
Ali Shayesteh Zeraati: University of Toronto, Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering
Kai Han: Shell Global Solutions International B.V.
Paul Corbett: Shell Global Solutions International B.V.
Drew Higgins: McMaster University, Department of Chemical Engineering
Rui Kai Miao: University of Toronto, Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering
David Sinton: University of Toronto, Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering

Nature Communications, 2025, vol. 16, issue 1, 1-11

Abstract: Abstract Reactive capture integrates CO2 capture and electrochemical conversion into CO — a key building block in the synthesis of industrial chemicals and fuels — avoiding costly regeneration steps and improving efficiency. Amino acid salt solutions, which offer rapid CO2 capture, facile CO2 release, O2 tolerance, and low toxicity, are promising sorbents for reactive capture. However, we find that amino acids can adsorb to common CO-producing catalysts, covering the active sites and deactivating the catalyst, and that they bind less to nickel phthalocyanine (NiPc). Still, when tested for reactive capture systems — where CO2 supply is inherently limited — NiPc’s performance is constrained by its weak CO2 adsorption and activation. Here we develop a nickel molecular catalyst supported on carbon nanotubes with a conjugated NiPc framework that resists amino acid adsorption and a coordinatively unsaturated Ni-N3 structure that promotes CO2 adsorption and enhances CO selectivity. As a result, we achieve 94% CO Faradaic efficiency at 100 mA cm–2 with an energy efficiency of 42% and an energy cost of 25 GJ tCO–1.

Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-65331-9

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