Halloysite Nanotubes Capturing Isotope Selective Atmospheric CO2

With the aim to capture and subsequent selective trapping of CO2, a nanocomposite has been developed through selective modification of the outer surface of the halloysite nanotubes (HNTs) with an organosilane to make the nanocomposite a novel solid-phase adsorbent to adsorb CO2 from the atmosphere at standard ambient temperature and pressure. The preferential adsorption of three major abundant isotopes of CO2 ((CO2)-C-12-O-16, (CO2)-C-13-O-16, and (COO)-C-12-O-16-O-18) from the ambient air by amine functionalized HNTs has been explored using an optical cavity-enhanced integrated cavity output spectroscopy. CO2 adsorption/desorption cycling measurements demonstrate that the adsorbent can be regenerated at relatively low temperature and thus, recycled repeatedly to capture atmospheric CO2. The amine grafted halloysite shows excellent stability even in oxidative environments and has high efficacy of CO2 capture, introducing a new route to the adsorption of isotope selective atmospheric CO2.