Shape-Shifting, Organic Crystals Open An Entirely New Pathway For CO₂-Capture

CO₂ capture Researchers at the Department of Chemistry, have discovered a new, energy‑efficient carbon‑capture method that uses the dynamic behavior of nonporous organic crystals to selectively absorb and release CO₂—opening a promising pathway toward scalable, next‑generation climate solutions.

CORC-researchers at the University of Copenhagen (KU) have found a new, energy-efficient way to capture CO₂ by harnessing the power of ‘shape-shifting’ in organic crystal structures.

A new method of carbon-capture will pave the way for a paradigm shift toward more sustainable, cost-effective CO₂ capture solutions. Postdoc Aleksa Petrovic, alongside postdoc Rodrigo Jose da Silva Lima and colleagues from Professor & CORC PI Jiwoong Lee’s group at UCPH have found a novel way to harness ‘chain-melting’ in nonporous crystals to effectively capture and easily release CO₂.

“Our findings go beyond improving CO₂ capture. They show that CO₂ can actively trigger changes in a material’s crystal structure - a feature we can now use as a design tool. This opens the door to applying our concept in many different settings and with a wide range of organic materials,” Aleksa Petrovic says.

The article has been published in Nature Communications, and it provides an important and groundbreaking alternative to traditional, state-of-the-art carbon capture methods.

Going forward, the next steps focus on achieving the scalability of the technology, while working together with engineers to also examine the design and use-cases of the crystals in different settings.

The full press release from CORC Aarhus University (https://corc.au.dk/news/news-and-events/news/nyhed/artikel/shape-shifting-organic-crystals-open-an-entirely-new-pathway-for-co2-capture)

Read the paper in Nature Communications (https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-026-69006-x)