Intrinsic Thermal Desorption in a 3D Printed Multifunctional Composite CO₂ Sorbent with Embedded Heating Capability

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Chemical Engineering
• Aerospace Engineering

Background:

• Efficient carbon dioxide (CO2) removal is critical for enclosed environments, especially in human spaceflight due to mass and volume constraints.
• Existing CO2 capture systems often require external heat sources for regeneration, adding complexity and mass.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a multifunctional composite material for CO2 sorption with integrated heating for thermal desorption.
• To utilize additive manufacturing for creating a structured, space-efficient CO2 capture device.

Main Methods:

• A layer-by-layer additive manufacturing technique was employed to print a composite material.
• The composite ink formulation included zeolite 13X for CO2 sorption and electrically conductive metal particles for intrinsic heating.
• Characterization involved analytical and imaging tools, followed by CO2 adsorption/desorption testing.

Main Results:

• The conductive sorbent exhibited low resistivity (<2 mΩ m) and could reach up to 200 °C with a 7 V bias.
• This temperature was sufficient to trigger CO2 desorption.
• The CO2 adsorption capacity of zeolite 13X was not significantly impacted by the embedded conductive particles.

Conclusions:

• A novel, 3D-printed, multifunctional composite effectively captures and desorbs CO2.
• The integrated heating capability eliminates the need for external heat sources, offering a compact and efficient solution for CO2 removal.
• This technology holds significant promise for life support systems in space exploration and other enclosed environments.