The unusual substance chooses what it will absorb. It has a specific purpose.

The graphene material, its makers claim, is highly selective. In practical terms, that means it can effectively block carbon dioxide from entering the environment or remove it when necessary. The scientists behind it write about the details of the concept Energy of nature.

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These membranes have been used several times. The principle of their operation is relatively simple, as it involves passing most gases and retaining those that are desirable for scientists (and at the same time undesirable for the environment). In this case, such a compound is, of course, carbon dioxide. Representatives of the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne are behind the experiments on the new material.

Their graphene membrane features high porosity and improved pore distribution. There is also the addition of polymer groups, thanks to which the selectivity of the mentioned greenhouse gases is increased. The problem was that high selectivity and permeability did not occur at the same time. In other words, the research team members could not connect the two.

The material is adapted in the form of a graphene membrane to selectively absorb carbon dioxide from the air.

What was needed was to find a way to increase the bonds between the graphene pores and the carbon dioxide. The key to success was to introduce nitrogen, whose atoms have a beneficial effect on the bonding phenomenon. The thickness of the graphene network was preserved. They also managed to achieve what scientists were looking for: high selectivity and permeability to other gases.

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The immediate goal of the creators will be to increase the range in which these membranes can operate. This will be the basis for implementing such a solution on a large scale, for example in production plants that emit large amounts of environmentally harmful compounds. Later, it will be time to commercialize this technology.