Engineering porous organic polymers for enhanced CO₂ capture: from synthesis to implementation

The escalating concentration of atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO₂) necessitates the development of efficient and scalable carbon capture technologies. Porous organic polymers (POPs) have emerged as a leading class of solid-state adsorbents, offering an exceptional combination of high surface area, tuneable porosity, and robust chemical stability. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of the engineering of POPs for enhanced CO₂ capture, traversing the journey from molecular design to implementation. We show the fundamental characteristics of POPs, including their classification and unique structure–property relationships that govern adsorption performance. The core of the review critically examines diverse synthetic strategies for creating POPs, with a focus on tailoring pore architecture and chemical functionality—such as amine incorporation and heteroatom doping—to optimize CO₂ capacity, selectivity, and regeneration kinetics. We further assess the performance of POPs under realistic conditions, analysing the critical impact of humidity, co-adsorbates, and long-term cycling on their practical viability. The economic and environmental prospects of POP-based capture are evaluated through techno-economic assessments. Finally, we highlight emerging trends of multi-functional POPs, and outline a roadmap for future research. The review concludes that while challenges in scalability and cost remain, POPs hold immense promise as next-generation adsorbents, with the potential to play a pivotal role in achieving a sustainable and net-zero future.