CO₂ Adsorption Using Graphene-Based Materials: A Review

Rapidly increasing global atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO₂) concentrations, a direct consequence of unabated fossil fuel combustion, pose a serious threat to our planet, fueling drastic global climate change. In the last ten years, there has been a surge in the development of chemical sorbents cycled through adsorption–desorption processes for CO₂ uptake, usually from low-concentration stationary sources like atmospheric air. The efficiency of these technologies, however, will depend on the development and optimization of promising next-generation materials tailored specifically for CO₂ capture. Graphene, a special distinctive material discovered about two decades ago, has the potential to propel the world even further toward a more sustainable future goal, for our largely fossil fuel-dependent economies. Graphene has a single-atom-thick sheet of sp²-hybridized carbon atoms causing it to have exceptional and tuneable properties. These have made graphene the most widely studied nanomaterial of the twenty first century. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the graphene-based materials for CO₂ capture/conversion. The review commences by exploring the synthesis techniques for graphene and the addition of dopants to tune its properties for targeted CO₂ capture applications. Furthermore, the review discusses graphene derivatives for CO₂ capture applications. Despite the immense potential, the practical implementation of graphene-based materials for direct air capture (DAC) will further exploration and development. Notably, engineering efficient graphene-air interfacial contact is paramount to expediting the deployment of DAC as a viable strategy for mitigating climate change. The review concludes by charting avenues for future research in environmental pollution mitigation through advanced material science and engineering approaches.