Carbon capture technology typically uses swings in temperature, pressure or voltage to move between the state capable of CO₂ capture and the state where CO₂ is released for utilization or storage. Performing these swings often takes considerable energy input. Therefore, using light energy — which could in principle be sunlight — to drive carbon capture presents an intriguing alternative approach. Now, Richard Liu and colleagues at Harvard University report that certain organic molecules can be used to capture gaseous CO₂ and release it on-demand when exposed to visible light.

中文翻译：

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照亮道路

碳捕获技术通常利用温度、压力或电压的波动在能够捕获CO _{2 的}状态和释放CO ₂以利用或储存的状态之间移动。执行这些摆动通常需要大量的能量输入。因此，利用光能（原则上可以是阳光）来驱动碳捕获提供了一种有趣的替代方法。现在，哈佛大学的 Richard Liu 及其同事报告说，某些有机分子可用于捕获气态 CO ₂并在暴露于可见光时按需释放。