title: A three-dimensional microvascular gas exchange unit for carbon dioxide capture.
abstract: For the capture of CO(2) from mixed gas streams, materials for increased gas exchange are necessary. Efficient gas exchange systems already exist in the form of vascularized lung-tissue. Herein we report a fabrication technique for the synthesis of three-dimensional microvascular gas exchange units capable of removing CO(2) from flowing gas created using the recently reported Vaporization of a Sacrificial Component (VaSC) technique. We demonstrate the spatiotemporal pattern of CO(2) reactivity in the microvascular gas exchange unit using colorimetric, pH sensitive dyes. Control over three-dimensional placement of channels is shown to increase capture efficiencies. A computational finite element model validates and explains the experimental observations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Material Science, and Biomedical Engineering, University of California, Irvine, Irvine California 92697, USA.
authors.forename: Du T
authors.initials: du T
authors.lastname: Nguyen
authors.forename: Y T
authors.initials: YT
authors.lastname: Leho
authors.forename: Aaron P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Esser-Kahn
mesh_terms: D000327:Adsorption; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000737:chemistry*; D003124:Colorimetry / Q000295:instrumentation*; D019856:Ethanolamine / Q000737:chemistry; D005740:Gases / Q000737:chemistry*; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D005740:Gases; D014867:Water; D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D019856:Ethanolamine