Mesh-like structure integrated core-shell-shell nanocomposites for enhanced stability and performance in carbon capture
Carbon capture is essential for mitigating climate change, yet most sorbents struggle to combine high capacity with chemical stability. Here we report core-shell-shell (CSS) nanocomposites that integrate adsorption efficiency with exceptional robustness. The design couples a metal-organic framework (MOF) core, which enriches local CO<sub>2</sub> concentration, with a polyamine shell that is reorganized into a porous, ordered network through entanglement with an outer covalent organic framework (COF) shell. This hierarchical architecture enables dual amine functionalization via sequential "click" and Schiff-base reactions, achieving a CO<sub>2</sub> uptake of 3.4 mmol g<sup>-1</sup> at 1 bar. The COF outer layer also acts as a protective barrier, suppressing humidity interference and doubling cycling stability under simulated flue gas. Remarkably, the nanocomposites maintain structural integrity after one week in strongly acidic (3 M HNO<sub>3</sub>) or basic (NaOH, pH=14) environments, underscoring their chemical resilience. By uniting high capacity, cycling durability, and environmental tolerance, this CSS strategy offers a versatile platform for next-generation carbon capture materials.
Authors
- Jeffrey J. Urban (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4909-2869)
- X. R. Zheng (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6800-2649)
- Xueer Xu
- Jane K.J. Lee (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7735-7647)
- Haiyan Mao (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0591-1236)
- Gang Ren (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8036-2321)
- Zhouyi Chen (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5867-4065)
- Chaochao Dun (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3215-6478)
- Yi Ping Cui (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6103-6352)
- Jeffrey A. Reimer (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4191-3725)
- Kai-Peng Hou (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4816-7067)
- Hao Zhuang
- Hao Lyu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7393-2456)
- Angela G. Cai (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8218-1997)
- Xudong Lv (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5601-3789)
- Jianfang Liu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6786-8873)
- Donglin Li (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0001-6866-8715)
- Sizhuo Yang
- Jing Wang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3793-3264)
Institutions
- Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (US)
- University of California, Berkeley (US)
- Stanford University (US)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Nature Communications
- Published
- 2025-11-26
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-65531-3
- Citations
- 1
- Primary Topic
- Carbon Dioxide Capture Technologies
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.71
Funders
- U.S. Department of Energy
- National Institutes of Health
- Office of Science
- Basic Energy Sciences