CO2 capture by multifunctionalized silica nano/microparticles

Gas detection sensing devices

Using nanotechnology and organic chemistry tools, it is expected to produce electronic devices based on the heterojunction between materials such as AlGaN/GaN (commonly used in current gas detection devices) and nanoparticles, for the production of more versatile, lightweight nanosensors for gases, with higher sensitivity to the exposed gas, and lower operating temperatures. One of the primary objectives is to drastically reduce the weight of the nanosensor, a crucial parameter in the aerospace field. These relatively simple devices are highly customizable since the candidate is skilled in modifying both i) the sensor substrate (allowing the attachment of nano-spheres, Figure 10), and ii) the ligands embedded in the nanoparticle, which enable gas attachment relying on the type of chemical functional group incorporated into them

Organosilanization of SBA-15 microparticles

Carbon dioxide solid sorbents produced from mesoporous functionalized silica microparticles (SBA-15) have been investigated (i) theoretically using density functional theory and (ii) evaluated empirically for assessing their CO2 adsorption capacity. We have developed two different families of organosilyl groups have been tested possessing a common anchoring group (silanol), in one extreme, but bearing two different types of CO2 sensitive groups in the other extreme; (i) hyperbranched polymeric PAMAM moieties, carrying multiple −NH2 groups, and (ii) a collection of linear functional ending groups suchas −SH, −SO3H, −guanidine(Gdn), −NH2, −NCO, and −N3. The adsorption isotherms revealed that SBA-15 bearing (3-aminopropyl)triethoxysilane(APTES) showed an impressive 3.4-fold adsorption enhancement at 1 bar and 50°C when compared to the pristine SBA-15, following a straightforward synthetic protocol. The maximum adsorption capacity was increased from 0.34 mmol/g (SBA-15) to 1.15mmol/g (SBA-15@NH2) under conditions relevant to CO2 capture (1 bar and 50°C). We also found intriguing certain discrepancies observed between the calculated CO2 isotherms and the theorized binding energy in two of the materials.