fast atmospheric CO2 capture

Deep decarbonization will reduce future emissions, but durable carbon dioxide removal will still be needed to compensate residual emissions and address accumulated atmospheric CO2. Mineral carbonation is attractive because it converts CO2 into thermodynamically stable carbonates. Magnesium-rich olivine is abundant and has high theoretical capacity, yet its practical use is constrained by slow ambient dissolution and progressive surface passivation. This project proposes to overcome this bottleneck by extending the reduction of the olivine particle size from micrometers to nanometers by producing engineered olivine nanoparticle assemblies through gas aggregation magnetron sputtering. The approach combines plasma synthesis, mineral physics, fluid-rock interaction, catalysis and reactive-transport modelling to create porous mineral architectures that remain accessible during conversion. The project will translate mechanistic understanding into a pilot-scale technology for permanent CO2 capture.