EPFL scientists develop highly efficient graphene-based carbon dioxide filter

Scientists at EPFL have developed an energy-efficient graphene-based carbon dioxide filter that can extract carbon dioxide out of a gas mix, to then be either stored or converted into useful chemicals.

Professor Kumar Varoon Agrawal at EPFL’s School of Basic Sciences (EPFL Valais Wallis) has led a team of chemical engineers to develop the world’s thinnest filter from graphene. “Our approach was simple,” says Agrawal. “We made carbon dioxide-sized holes in graphene, which allowed carbon dioxide to flow through while blocking other gases such as nitrogen, which are larger than carbon dioxide.” The result is a record-high carbon dioxide-capture performance.