Scientists harness sunlight to pull carbon dioxide out of thin air

Scientists at Harvard, led by assistant professor Richard Y. Liu, have developed a novel method to capture carbon dioxide (CO₂) from the air using sunlight. Their approach employs specially designed organic molecules called photobases that, when activated by sunlight, generate hydroxide ions capable of efficiently capturing and releasing CO₂. Unlike current direct air capture technologies, which require significant energy input, Liu’s light-driven process offers a low-energy, reversible, and potentially solar-powered alternative, representing a promising step toward scalable greenhouse gas removal solutions. Liu’s research integrates expertise from chemistry, materials science, and engineering, with collaboration from energy professor Daniel G. Nocera. Funded primarily by an NSF CAREER award and supported by Harvard amid federal funding challenges, the work exemplifies practical innovation combined with educational goals. The team’s findings, published in Nature Chemistry, highlight how creative molecular design can harness abundant sunlight to address climate change by enabling more energy-efficient carbon capture technologies. Liu advocates for continued scientific investment to