Panaji: Carbon dioxide is one of the world’s biggest greenhouse gases and its emissions are one of the primary drivers of climate change. World over, researchers are working to develop technologies that can capture CO2 and utilise it efficiently, rather than releasing it in the atmosphere. Now, a team under a professor from BITS Pilani KK Birla Goa campus has taken up the project which aims to convert carbon dioxide into carbon nanofibers.These nanofibers are a high-value material used in supercapacitors and lithium-ion batteries. The project is being carried forward with a grant of Rs 74 lakh awarded by the Centre under its ANRF Advanced Research Grant (ARG).Professor Richa Singhal, an associate professor in the department of chemical engineering at BITS Pilani Goa campus, will lead the project.Singhal said that at present most current carbon dioxide utilisation technologies focus on converting the gas into liquid fuels like methanol or other chemical feedstocks. She said that while these products are valuable, many require additional energy-intensive processing and may eventually release carbon dioxide back into the atmosphere when used.Through the support of the grant, Singhal’s team is developing the innovative process to directly convert captured carbon dioxide into a highly valuable material known as carbon nanofibers.“Our research focuses on ‘carbon circularity’, by converting CO2 into carbon nanofibers, a high-value advanced material used in energy storage devices, and lightweight structural composites. Using an electrochemical process, CO2 is directly transformed into solid carbon nanofibers while avoiding the challenges associated with storing or transporting gaseous products,” said Singhal, who has expertise in nanomaterials, electrochemical energy storage, renewable energy, and sustainable technologies.By turning a greenhouse gas into a useful material, the technology supports both climate mitigation and sustainable manufacturing, she said.“CO2 is one of the primary contributors to climate change, yet it is also an abundant carbon resource. Our research seeks to harness this potential. In a sense, the carbon emitted from a vehicle exhaust today could become part of the battery that powers it. By transforming waste carbon into high-value product, we aim to create a practical pathway that addresses both the climate challenges and sustainable manufacturing,“ said Singhal, who joined BITS Pilani in 2017 after serving as a postdoctoral scientist at George Washington University, USA.The research has the potential to address two major global challenges simultaneously: carbon emissions and next-generation energy storage. It also aligns with India’s growing focus on clean technology, sustainable manufacturing, and deep-tech innovation, she said.Prior to her doctoral studies, Singhal worked as a scientist at CSIR–Indian Institute of Petroleum, Dehradun. Her research focuses on developing advanced materials and technologies for clean energy and carbon utilisation.
