MAROKO133 Hot ai: Amine-functionalized carbon material releases CO2 at 140°F, cuts energy

📌 MAROKO133 Eksklusif ai: Amine-functionalized carbon material releases CO2 at 140

Researchers in Japan have developed a new carbon-based material that can release captured carbon dioxide at much lower temperatures, potentially cutting the cost of carbon capture.

Most existing systems require high heat to release trapped CO2. This step, known as desorption, often needs temperatures above 212°F making the process energy-intensive and expensive.

This is one of the main reasons carbon capture technologies have not scaled widely, despite being available for decades.

The new material, called viciazite, can release most of the captured CO2 at temperatures below 140°F, offering a more energy-efficient alternative.

Lower heat, lower costs

The research was led by scientists at Chiba University, who developed three types of these materials by carefully controlling how nitrogen atoms are arranged within the carbon structure.

Carbon-based solid adsorbents are already seen as a promising alternative to liquid systems because they can capture CO2 with less energy. However, in most cases, the chemical groups that bind CO2 are randomly distributed, making performance unpredictable.

The new approach changes that. The team created materials where nitrogen-containing groups are placed next to each other in specific patterns. This precise arrangement improves how the material captures and releases CO2.

To build these materials, the researchers used a multi-step process involving high-temperature treatment and chemical modification. The result was three different versions, each with a distinct nitrogen configuration.

Performance tests showed that two of these versions captured CO2 more effectively than standard carbon materials. One version stood out during desorption, releasing most of the gas at significantly lower temperatures.

“Performance evaluation revealed that in carbon materials where NH2 groups are introduced adjacently, most of the adsorbed CO2 desorbs at temperatures below 60 °C,” said Yasuhiro Yamada.

Designed at molecular level

Lowering the temperature needed for CO2 release can reduce energy use by allowing the process to run on industrial waste heat instead of dedicated heating systems.

This could make carbon capture more practical for industries that produce large amounts of emissions, such as power generation and manufacturing.

The study also found that different nitrogen configurations affect durability. While one material performed best at lower temperatures, another showed better long-term stability due to its chemical structure.

“Our motivation is to contribute to the future society and to utilize our recently developed carbon materials with controlled structures,” Yamada said.

Beyond carbon capture, the researchers suggest that these materials could be used in other applications, including metal adsorption and catalysis, due to their tunable surface properties.

By showing that these nitrogen configurations can be built in a controlled and repeatable way, the study offers a new direction for designing more efficient carbon capture materials.

The study was published in the journal Carbon.

🔗 Sumber: interestingengineering.com

📌 MAROKO133 Hot ai: Breakthrough propulsion system lets satellites use Earth’s atm

A significant step in satellite propulsion is paving the way for a new era in space technology. The new efforts in air-breathing electric propulsion (ABEP) systems promise to revolutionize how satellites operate—especially in extremely low Earth orbits.

Conventional satellites rely on onboard fuel to maintain their orbit and perform maneuvers. However, this approach comes with limitations: fuel adds weight, restricts mission duration, and increases costs. Over time, satellites lose altitude due to atmospheric drag and must expend fuel to stay in orbit.

Innovation allows satellites to operate sustainably at very low altitudes

The newly developed air-breathing electric propulsion (ABEP) system challenges this model by eliminating the need for traditional propellant. Instead, it collects and uses residual atmospheric particles as fuel. This innovation allows satellites to operate sustainably at very low altitudes, known as Very Low Earth Orbit (VLEO).

At altitudes between roughly 180 and 250 kilometers, traces of atmospheric gases are still present. The ABEP system captures these particles, ionizes them, and accelerates them to generate thrust.

This process offers major advantages including no onboard fuel requirement, reducing launch mass and virtually unlimited propulsion, as long as atmospheric particles are available.

System passed a key design review

The system has recently passed a key design review, confirming both its technical feasibility and readiness for further development.

The project “Cathodeless Electric Propulsion Thruster for Air-Breathing Electric Propulsion Systems” is carried out by TransMIT GmbH.

IQM is leading the development of a cathodeless electric propulsion (EP) thruster under ESA funding, aimed at removing the need for external neutralisers in atmosphere-breathing systems. The goal is to design, manufacture, and test a prototype thruster capable of stable operation with Earth’s atmospheric gases (N₂/O₂ mixtures), achieving at least 50% electrical efficiency and a minimum specific impulse of 4200 s.

This activity builds on feasibility studies and technology trade-offs carried out at IQM, which identified the most promising concepts for cathodeless EP operation in reactive, oxygen-rich environments. A prototype is now under construction, with testing planned in vacuum facilities capable of reproducing Very Low Earth Orbit (VLEO) conditions.

The propulsion system integrates the most promising solutions for this specific target: a traditional high-frequency ion thruster with unique cathodeless functional characteristics, eliminating the need for a cathode assembly, which, while a critical component for ion thruster operation, has proven difficult to implement in the ABEP concept, according to a report.

This achievement represents a significant milestone in European efforts to develop next-generation propulsion systems that will enable sustainable satellite constellations in extremely low orbits by using particles from the atmosphere as fuel for the engine to compensate for the drag that these very particles exert on the satellite.

Air-breathing propulsion

The adoption of air-breathing propulsion could significantly reshape the satellite industry. With longer mission lifespans and reduced dependency on fuel, satellite operators can lower costs and improve efficiency.

While still under development, air-breathing propulsion represents a major leap toward sustainable and efficient space operations. As testing progresses and the technology matures, it may soon enable a new class of satellites capable of operating closer to Earth than ever before.

In essence, this innovation marks not just an incremental improvement—but a fundamental shift in how we think about propulsion in space.

🔗 Sumber: interestingengineering.com