Design of a Magnesium Microstructured Biohybrid Material for Practical Atmospheric CO 2 Mitigation
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: High Resolution Image Download MS PowerPoint Slide The rising levels of greenhouse gases such as CO 2 pose critical challenges for climate stability and indoor air quality. Here, we report the design and synthesis of a magnesium-based microstructured biohybrid (MicroMg) using a mild, enzyme-assisted process at room temperature and neutral pH. MicroMg consists of well-defined Mg 3 (PO 4 ) 2 microstructures stabilized by a lipase scaffold, exhibiting high structural integrity and crystallinity. In aqueous media, MicroMg efficiently converts CO 2 into mainly bicarbonate under ambient conditions, achieving complete conversion of aqueous CO 2 within 30 min (TOF value of 16 h –1 ) and demonstrating structural stability over repeated reactions. When this was incorporated into paint and applied to real wall surfaces, MicroMg effectively reduced CO 2 concentrations in gas-phase experiments, maintaining >90% of the initial activity over three washing cycles and performing better on larger coated areas (35 cm 2 ) and with double-layer applications. Additionally, MicroMg remained active at elevated CO 2 concentrations (up to 1500 ppm), with a transformation rate of 16 ppm/h of CO 2 confirming its potential for mitigating indoor CO 2 levels. These results demonstrate that MicroMg is a sustainable, reusable, and scalable material for the CO 2 transformation, offering a promising strategy for both indoor air quality improvement and greenhouse gas mitigation.
Source: ACS Applied Energy Materials
Authors: Carla Garcia-Sanz, Jose M. Palomo
Institution: Instituto de Catálisis y Petroleoquímica
Language: English
Subfield: Mechanical Engineering
Field: Engineering
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $4,500
OpenAlex ID: W7128471356