The AEROPILs Generation: Novel Poly(Ionic Liquid)-Based Aerogels for CO(2) Capture

CO(2) levels in the atmosphere are increasing exponentially. The current climate change effects motivate an urgent need for new and sustainable materials to capture CO(2). Porous materials are particularly interesting for processes that take place near atmospheric pressure. However, materials design should not only consider the morphology, but also the chemical identity of the CO(2) sorbent to enhance the affinity towards CO(2). Poly(ionic liquid)s (PILs) can enhance CO(2) sorption capacity, but tailoring the porosity is still a challenge. Aerogel’s properties grant production strategies that ensure a porosity control. In this work, we joined both worlds, PILs and aerogels, to produce a sustainable CO(2) sorbent. PIL-chitosan aerogels (AEROPILs) in the form of beads were successfully obtained with high porosity (94.6–97.0%) and surface areas (270–744 m(2)/g). AEROPILs were applied for the first time as CO(2) sorbents. The combination of PILs with chitosan aerogels generally increased the CO(2) sorption capability of these materials, being the maximum CO(2) capture capacity obtained (0.70 mmol g(−1), at 25 °C and 1 bar) for the CHT:P[DADMA]Cl(30%) AEROPIL.