Introduction to Materials Adsorption Science
Adsorption is a scientific term coined by a German physicist, Heinrich Gustav Johannes Kayser in 1881. It is used to describe the phenomenon of particles attaching to the surface of materials. After this phenomenon has been studied and understood, adsorption technology has been widely used in our daily life. For example, the electrostatically charged fibers in the mask absorbs dust and germs in the air for filtering purpose; Entering medical stone will absorb impurities and purify water; desiccant absorbs water molecules in the air to remove moisture. These are practical applications of adsorption.
In recent years, extreme climate has seriously affected people's life and economic activities. The cause of this is that due to the excessive use of fossil energy, a large number of carbon-containing greenhouse gas molecules, such as carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, methane, etc., escape into the air In this way, the radiant heat obtained by sunlight accumulates too much and cannot be effectively dissipated, which seriously affects the original natural heat dissipation cycle mechanism (vegetation, water system, ocean currents, ice layers), resulting in extreme climate. Just like a body with endocrine disorders, not only is everything not right, but also minor and major illnesses continue.
In order to reduce greenhouse gases in the air and restore the natural climate of the past, scientists are trying to find effective solutions. Among them, "material adsorption" is a scientific field that has been widely studied. This method uses the material properties of the material itself to absorb and adhere the greenhouse gases in the air, and even after it is taken out and stored elsewhere, the original material can be reused.
In this type of research, according to the working principle of material adsorption, it is divided into two types: physical adsorption (Physical Adsorption) and chemical adsorption (Chemical Adsorption). Physical adsorption, including those through van der Waals force. The method of adhering the target substance to the selected material; while chemisorption is to make the target substance and the selected material chemically After the reaction, a method for obtaining another compound. Adsorbent materials used in physical adsorption methods can usually be reused. For example, after the dehumidifier is evaporated to remove the moisture in it, it can be dehumidified again. After adsorption, it is necessary to try to remove the adsorbed material for storage. The compounds formed by chemical adsorption can be directly used for other purposes without secondary treatment under deliberate conditions. Therefore, both methods have their specific use cases, with their own advantages and disadvantages.
Regardless of the adsorption method, the first consideration is the efficiency of the adsorbent material, and whether the adsorbent material itself is easy to obtain in large quantities. Others also contain additives or energy for the adsorption process, which cannot create more greenhouse gases in order to absorb the greenhouse gases in sight but in other places that cannot be seen. For example, although electric vehicles do not emit greenhouse gases in cities, they need to build more and larger thermal power plants, which may generate more greenhouse gases. Furthermore, the installation cost of the adsorption system is also a factor that needs to be considered, and it cannot be so large that the execution unit cannot afford it. Therefore, scientists are constantly looking for, researching, and testing these new adsorption materials and methods, in order to find the most suitable solution.