A Novel Biomimetic Nano-Soft Robot for Integrated CO2 Green Low Energy Consumption Conversion and Storage Via Peridotite Mineralization

Abstract Under the framework of global carbon neutrality and technological innovations, achieving synergistic CO2 conversion-storage systems coupled with high-value chemical co-products holds significant engineering implications. However, CO2 mineralization is an extremely slow kinetic process, and CO2 reduction primarily relies on high-energy electrocatalytic systems. Thus, developing environmentally adaptive functional materials capable of enabling scalable CO2 mineralization with simultaneous value-added product generation under subsurface conditions is of great urgency. This study introduces a stratigraphy-tolerant biomimetic nanogel (nano-soft robot) designed to enhance CO2 hydration kinetics by improving temperature and shear resistance while enhancing catalytic performance.A suite of analytical techniques, including SEM, TGA and XRD elucidated the diffusion pathways of mineral precursors and the crystallization nucleation mechanisms of peridotite carbonate minerals. This study elucidates the mechanisms underlying biomimetic nanogel-enabled peridotite CO2 reduction for ethane/ethylene/propane generation, culminating in the innovative development of integrated CO2 mineralization-reduction coupling technology in peridotites. The experimental results demonstrate successful construction of a high-temperature-resistant biomimetic nano-soft robot with cobalt (Co) as the catalytic active center. XPS and SEM analysis demonstrate that the nanogel possesses a unique structure in which organic crystals are encapsulated within a nanogel matrix. In CO2 hydration experiments, the nano-robot exhibited high catalytic efficiency, reducing the system pH to 6.30 within 300 seconds at a 20 mg dosage. The synthesized catalyst exhibits excellent viscoelastic properties, with a storage modulus (G′) exceeding 10⁴ Pa, indicating outstanding mechanical stability under reservoir conditions. Importantly, this flexible nanozyme demonstrates exceptional thermal resistance, far exceeding the thermal deactivation threshold (45°C) of conventional carbonic anhydrases, while ZIF-67 MOF achieved only pH 6.63 under identical conditions. GC analysis confirmed H2 generation and CO2 reduction, yielding 2800 ppm C2-C3 hydrocarbons during the peridotite-hosted in situ CO2 mineralization-reduction reaction mediated by 20 mg biomimetic nanogel catalyst under conditions of 10 MPa and 40°C for 3 days. The temperature-adaptive viscoelastic matrix further ensures structural integrity under hydrothermal conditions, enabling sustained catalytic activity through dynamic self-reconfiguration. These findings establish a novel CO2 mineralization-reduction coupling technology in peridotite, accelerating carbonation kinetics and hydrocarbon production for carbon sequestration. While realizing the strategic goal of carbon neutrality, we aim to produce green high-value-added chemical products through integrated processes and promote the resource-based utilization of CO2.