Swansea University Researchers Develop One-Step Method For Producing Porous Carbon Spheres

By  Lynn L. Bergeson and Ligia Duarte Botelho, M.A.

Researchers at Swansea University’s Energy Safety Research Institute have developed a new method that produces spheres that have strong capacity for carbon capture and work at a large scale. Described as “[a] fast, green and one-step method for producing porous carbon spheres, which are a vital component for carbon capture technology and for new ways of storing renewable energy,” the method was developed by a research team that adapted an existing method known as chemical vapor deposition (CVD). This adapted method involves the use of heat to apply a coating to a material using pyromellitic acid as both carbon and oxygen source. Research scientists involved in the development of this new method report that the new approach brings certain advantages over existing methods of producing carbon spheres, including:

• It is alkali-free;

• It does not need a catalyst to trigger the shaping of the spheres;

• It uses cheap and safe feedstock that is readily available on the market;

• There is no need for solvents to purify the material; and

• It is a rapid and safe procedure.