Groundbreaking approach to gas separation
Scientists from the University of Strathclyde and the University of Sheffield have unveiled a novel class of crystalline materials that could transform how industries purify gas streams. Published in Nature Chemistry, the work describes non-porous silver coordination polymers lined with fluorine-based chains that respond to pressure by forming temporary openings. When mixed gases pass through, CO₂ is selectively captured while methane, the main component of natural gas, is displaced, yielding a cleaner product with potentially lower energy input than traditional filtration methods.
How the new materials work
Traditional gas separation often relies on porous materials or membranes with tiny holes designed to sift CO₂ from other gases. The new crystals, however, operate through a dissolution-like mechanism inspired by how CO₂ dissolves in certain liquids. This fundamental shift in transport physics allows the material to adapt to pressure changes in real time. The fluorine chains lining the crystals respond to pressure by temporarily rearranging to create openings that trap CO₂, facilitating selective capture while allowing methane to exit the material unimpeded.
Why this matters for carbon reduction
Gas separation is a key step in processes such as natural gas purification, carbon capture, and hydrogen generation. In many industrial settings, removing CO₂ from gas streams is energy-intensive and costly, contributing to higher operating expenses and greater carbon footprints. The Strathclyde-Sheffield breakthrough promises several potential benefits: reduced energy consumption, lower material costs, and greater flexibility to adapt to varying gas compositions. By improving CO₂ removal efficiency, facilities could cut emissions associated with gas processing and advance climate goals tied to fossil fuel transition strategies.
Flexibility and real-world potential
A notable advantage of these crystals is their tunability. Researchers can adjust the length of the molecular chains inside the crystals to tailor performance for different operating conditions—temperature, pressure, and gas mixture. This adaptability could extend the technology’s reach across a wide range of industrial applications, from natural gas refining to emerging clean-energy supplies that rely on gas streams with varying CO₂ contents.
What researchers are saying
Professor Ashleigh Fletcher of Strathclyde’s Department of Chemical & Process Engineering commented on the discovery: the material’s non-porous, silver coordination polymer structure enables a dissolution-like CO₂ capture mechanism, opening new possibilities for next-generation gas separation technologies. This perspective underscores the potential to rethink gas purification beyond conventional porous materials and toward smarter, energy-efficient processes.
Looking ahead
The researchers emphasize that while the initial results are promising, further development will focus on scaling up the material, ensuring long-term stability under industrial conditions, and integrating the technology with existing gas-processing workflows. If successful, the approach could be deployed in facilities worldwide, contributing to cleaner gas products and lower carbon intensity across industries that depend on natural gas, carbon capture, and hydrogen production.
In a landscape where energy efficiency and emissions reductions are increasingly critical, this discovery adds an exciting pathway for cleaner gas purification. By reimagining how CO₂ interacts with solid materials at the molecular level, the research team is turning a long-standing challenge into a practical opportunity for a more sustainable energy future.
