“Revolutionizing Green Technology: Researchers Develop Method for Synthesizing Pure Porous Organic Polymers to Combat Climate Change”

A group of researchers from Tohoku University have made a groundbreaking discovery in the field of polymer synthesis that could have significant implications for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The researchers have developed a method for synthesizing a special type of polymer known as porous organic polymers (POPs) that have the ability to soak up harmful pollutants like carbon dioxide (CO2), making them a valuable tool in the fight against climate change.

POPs are highly porous materials that resemble sponges, allowing them to absorb large quantities of CO2. In addition to their impressive porosity, POPs also exhibit high thermal and chemical stability, making them versatile materials with potential applications in gas separation and energy storage.

Previous methods for synthesizing POPs involved the use of metal salts as oxidants or organometallic catalysts, which often left behind metal impurities within the pores of the POPs. This contamination reduced the overall porosity and effectiveness of the POPs, limiting their potential applications.

To address this issue, the researchers at Tohoku University developed a new method for synthesizing POPs using iodine as an oxidant. By washing the synthesized POPs with ethanol after production, the researchers were able to completely remove any residual impurities, resulting in highly pure POPs with no metal impurities. These pure POPs exhibited the highest specific surface area among reported POPs containing triphenylamine, a key component of the polymer.

Kouki Oka, a researcher at Tohoku University, explained that the reduction of impurities in the POPs led to improved porosity and enhanced performance in CO2 adsorption capacity. Additionally, the pure POPs demonstrated unique functionalities for the first time, including proton conductivity and a gate-opening phenomenon in gas adsorption behavior. These findings open up new possibilities for the use of POPs in applications such as fuel cells and adsorbents.

The researchers’ findings were published in the journal Small on February 17, 2025, highlighting the importance of developing innovative solutions like highly pure POPs to address the ongoing challenge of greenhouse gas emissions. As climate change continues to be a pressing issue, research into materials like POPs will play a crucial role in mitigating its impact on the environment.