There are new insights into one promising method for removing carbon from the atmosphere: using electricity to manipulate chemicals that then pull carbon out of the air. 

By using electrochemical techniques to change the molecular structures of compounds called quinones, CU Boulder researchers discovered that quinones can bind with and capture carbon—a significant and novel finding that helps scientists understand which types of compounds might be better— or worse—at capturing atmospheric carbon. 

“Electrochemical carbon capture materials that are considered to be good for CO2 capture from concentrated sources might not be as good when capturing CO2 from dilute sources such as air,” says Oana Luca, assistant professor of chemistry.