Porous carbon-based materials for electrochemical CO 2 capture by supercapacitive swing adsorption

Abstract Electrochemical supercapacitive swing adsorption (SSA) is an emerging CO2 capture technology that couples reversible charge storage with electrically driven CO2 uptake and release, offering the potential for low-energy operation. Porous carbon electrodes are central to SSA because they govern charge storage, ion adsorption and transport, and interfacial CO2 enrichment, thereby determining capture performance. However, the relationships between carbon structure, interfacial electrochemistry, and CO2-capture mechanisms remain poorly understood. This Review provides a carbon-centered perspective on SSA. We first summarize the fundamentals of SSA, including cell configurations, electrode materials, and proposed capture mechanisms. Particular emphasis is placed on the evolution of carbon electrodes from commercial porous carbons to tailored porous carbons, quinone-functionalized carbons, and covalent-organic-framework-based composites. We then discuss emerging structure–performance relationships, focusing on how surface area, pore architecture, and surface chemistry influence CO2 capture capacity, kinetics, and energy consumption, and derive empirical design principles for SSA electrodes. Finally, we highlight key challenges and opportunities in mechanistic understanding, material and device design, evaluation under realistic conditions, integration of CO2 capture with utilization, and techno-economic analysis and life-cycle assessment. By linking carbon structure to interfacial processes and device-level performance, this Review provides a framework for the rational design of scalable SSA systems for electrochemical carbon capture.