In a groundbreaking development, researchers in Switzerland have created a building material that actively captures and stores carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere. This innovative material, developed at ETH Zurich, combines a hydrogel with photosynthetic cyanobacteria. It promises a sustainable solution for reducing the carbon footprint of buildings.
The material works through a dual mechanism. The cyanobacteria convert CO2 into biomass through photosynthesis, while also forming solid carbonates that trap CO2 in a stable mineral form. Laboratory tests show the material can continuously capture CO2 for over 400 days, absorbing approximately 26 milligrams of CO2 per gram.
This new material has already been showcased in architectural installations. Structures made from the hydrogel were displayed at the 2025 Venice Architecture Biennale. These structures, like young pine trees, can capture up to 18 kilograms of CO2 annually. The researchers are now exploring integrating this material into building facades to create structures that passively sequester CO2 throughout their lifecycle.