Kaolin-derived zeolite enables high-performance carbon capture with gigaton-scale potential

Gigaton-scale carbon dioxide (CO₂) capture is an indispensable part of the way towards global carbon neutrality, but has lagged in developing an adsorbent that simultaneously has high performance, low cost, and scalability from earth-abundant raw materials coupled with industrially compatible synthesis processes. Here we discover that high-performing CO₂ adsorbent of Linde Type A (LTA) zeolite can be converted from ubiquitous kaolin clay (reserves >30 gigatons) via scalable processes and exhibits record high CO₂ uptake with good cycling stability. The synthesis route, comprising mainly calcination and a hyperthermal reaction, is readily compatible with existing industrial infrastructure and avoids the use of complex or toxic chemicals. Benefiting from an optimized crystal structure for CO₂ trapping, the material achieves CO₂ adsorption capacities that surpass all previously reported clay-derived zeolites across a wide concentration range, from ambient air (∼400 ppm) to flue gas conditions (<20%). It also maintains stable performance over 50 adsorption-desorption cycles. Beyond material and method development, we provide a proof-of-concept showing that integrating radiative cooling for CO₂ adsorption and solar heating for sorbent regeneration could enable a low-carbon pathway for passive sorbent operation. This study offers a feasible route to explore scalable carbon capture using widely available materials and passive energy strategies.