Engineering Porous Organic Polymers for Enhanced CO₂ Capture: From Synthesis to Implementation

Abstract

The escalating concentration of atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO₂) necessitates the development of efficient and scalable carbon capture technologies. Porous organic polymers (POPs) have emerged as a leading class of solid-state adsorbents, offering an exceptional combination of high surface area, tuneable porosity, and robust chemical stability. This Review provides a comprehensive analysis of the engineering of POPs for enhanced CO₂ capture, traversing the journey from molecular design to implementation. We show the fundamental characteristics of POPs, including their classification and unique structure-property relationships that govern adsorption performance. The core of the Review critically examines the diverse synthetic strategies for creating POPs, with a focus on tailoring pore architecture and chemical functionality-such as amine incorporation and heteroatom doping-to optimize CO₂ capacity, selectivity, and regeneration kinetics. We further assess the performance of POPs under realistic conditions, analysing the critical impact of humidity, co-adsorbates, and longterm cycling on their practical viability. The economic and environmental prospects of POP-based capture are evaluated through techno-economic and life cycle assessments (LCA). Finally, we highlight emerging trends, including modern-driven design and multi-functional POPs, and outline a roadmap for future research. The Review concludes that while challenges in scalability and cost remain, POPs hold immense promise as next-generation adsorbents, with the potential to play a pivotal role in achieving a sustainable and net-zero future.