Kaolin-derived zeolite enables high-performance carbon capture with gigaton-scale potential

ABSTRACT Gigaton-scale carbon dioxide (CO2) capture is an indispensable part of the way towards global carbon neutrality, but has lagged in developing an adsorbent that simultaneously has high performance, low cost, and scalability from earth-abundant raw materials coupled with industrially compatible synthesis processes. Here we discover that high-performing CO2 adsorbent of Linde Type A (LTA) zeolite can be converted from ubiquitous kaolin clay (reserves >30 gigatons) via scalable processes and exhibits record high CO2 uptake with good cycling stability. The synthesis route, comprising mainly calcination and a hyperthermal reaction, is readily compatible with existing industrial infrastructure and avoids the use of complex or toxic chemicals. Benefiting from an optimized crystal structure for CO2 trapping, the material achieves CO2 adsorption capacities that surpass all previously reported clay-derived zeolites across a wide concentration range, from ambient air (∼400 ppm) to flue gas conditions (<20%). It also maintains stable performance over 50 adsorption–desorption cycles. Beyond material and method development, we provide a proof-of-concept showing that integrating radiative cooling for CO2 adsorption and solar heating for sorbent regeneration could enable a low-carbon pathway for passive sorbent operation. This study offers a feasible route to explore scalable carbon capture using widely available materials and passive energy strategies.