Scientists at Heriot-Watt University have created a new porous material that captures carbon dioxide more efficiently than trees.

The material is composed of oxygen, nitrogen, and fluorine, targeting greenhouse gases that contribute to global warming and biodiversity loss.

Published in Nature Synthesis, the research utilized computer modelling to design molecules that form into hollow, cage-like structures for gas storage.

The research team, led by Dr Marc Little, is exploring the use of AI to speed up the development of new materials for environmental and medical applications.

Although promising, the main hurdle is to scale up the laboratory results for practical, real-world applications.

The innovation has the potential to make significant contributions to the fight against climate change in the foreseeable future.