Architecting Adsorbents: The Role of Texture-Chemistry Interplay in CO2 Adsorption

AbstractThe escalating concentration of atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) necessitates the development of efficient capture technologies to mitigate climate change. Among various strategies, solid adsorbents have gained significant attention due to their tunability, reusability and lower energy demands compared to traditional amine-based solvents. However, the performance of these adsorbents is intricately governed by a combination of textural properties—such as surface area, pore size distribution and pore volume—and surface chemical features, including functional groups and binding affinities. This review comprehensively explores the synergistic interplay between these two domains in materials such as metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), covalent organic frameworks (COFs), activated carbons, mesoporous silicas and hybrid composites. Emphasis is placed on how tailored microporosity enables high capacity at low partial pressures, while functionalization with amines, nitrogen groups, or polar moieties enhances selectivity and adsorption strength. Strategies like post-synthetic modification, nitrogen doping and green synthesis from biomass are discussed. Key performance benchmarks—adsorption capacity, selectivity, kinetics, regeneration energy and stability—are evaluated using real-world data. The review also highlights recent advances in machine learning, in situ characterization techniques and sustainable material design. By integrating insights from both texture and chemistry, this work offers guidance for the rational design of next-generation CO2 adsorbents with optimized performance for industrial deployment.