Researchers at the University of Colorado Boulder have created a custom flow cell using confocal Raman spectroscopy to visualize the chemical reactions inside direct air capture systems. This tool allows engineers to see exactly how CO2 transforms into carbonate and bicarbonate salts in real time, removing the guesswork from system optimization. By using 3D-printed resins and computational modeling, the team can now test how flow rates and potassium hydroxide concentrations affect capture efficiency. This level of detail helps reduce energy costs and material waste as DAC technology scales toward industrial use.
