A Tree in a Tube? UC Berkeley’s New Powder Captures CO₂ Faster Than Nature

Why wait a year for a tree to capture carbon when half a pound of powder can do it in days?

UC Berkeley scientists have unveiled a revolutionary material — COF-999, a powder that absorbs CO₂ as effectively as a large tree yet fits in a tube. COF-999, developed under the guidance of chemist Omar Yaghi, captures carbon at a rate ten times faster than existing materials, using a unique porous structure filled with amine compounds to grab CO₂ molecules from the air.

Its design holds the CO₂ until gently heated to 140°F, releasing it for sequestration. With durability tested over 100 cycles without degradation, COF-999 has the potential to become a robust tool in direct air capture plants within two years.

• Captures CO₂ faster and with less heat than current alternatives.
• Durable for potentially thousands of cycles without losing efficiency.
• On track to double in capacity in the coming year, making it highly scalable.

With innovations like COF-999, are we approaching a new era in carbon capture? Could materials like COF-999 help us reach a sustainable carbon-neutral future, or is it too little, too late? Share your thoughts in the comments.

Read the full article on LA Times.

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