A perspective on bridging academic research and advanced testing on a path towards pilot plant implementation: A case study of integrating CO2 capture and catalytic conversion with dual function materials

As climate change intensifies, the challenges associated with CO2, including emissions mitigation, atmospheric CO2 abatement, and conversion to valuable, carbon-based products will persist for decades. There is an abundance of academic research that addresses the need for CO2 capture and conversion materials, and many of the solutions examined in the academy have shown promise under ideal conditions. The primary message of this perspective is to recognize the value of initial testing under ideal laboratory conditions while emphasizing the pressing need for further evaluations that simulate the real conditions expected in the final application. By expanding laboratory test parameters to include more realistic elements, materials can be more rigorously validated for the intended application. Success at the small-scale warrants scaled up bench and pilot plant evaluations in advance of eventual commercialization. This perspective will use dual function materials (DFMs) as a case study for discussing a scalable approach to academic research of CO2 capture and catalytic conversion. These materials combine supported adsorbents and catalysts for integrated CO2 capture from point sources and ambient air and subsequent conversion to renewable methane.