Kyushu University\u2019s Direct Air Capture and Utilization device (known as DAC-U) is in development as part of a NEDO-Moonshot Project<\/a>, led by Professor Shigenori Fujikawa <\/a>from the International Institute for Carbon-Neutral Energy Research<\/a> (WPI-I\u00b2CNER) and Research Center for Negative Emissions Technologies<\/a> (K-NETs) at Kyushu University.<\/p>\n DAC-U, along with other exhibited carbon capture technologies, is vital in the fight against climate change. CO\u2082 acts as a greenhouse gas that warms the planet, and its concentration in the atmosphere has risen sharply due to human activity, such as burning fossil fuels. Reducing this buildup, not only by lowering emissions but also by capturing CO\u2082 from the air, is essential for slowing global warming and creating a more sustainable future.<\/p>\n However, Fujikawa emphasizes the importance of open thinking about CO\u2082. \u201cWe should not treat CO\u2082 as a villain. If captured and recycled responsibly instead of allowing it to accumulate, it can be a valuable resource that we can use in our daily lives,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n As part of Kyushu University\u2019s exhibit, visitors can see a spinning disk that showcases the core of the technology behind DAC-U: an ultra-thin nanomembrane, 1\/300th the thickness of plastic wrap. This filter, inspired by the selectivity of cell membranes, lets CO\u2082 pass through more easily than other gases in air, allowing the carbon dioxide to be concentrated.<\/p>\n Fig. 1. A prototype of Kyushu University\u2019s Direct Air Capture and Utilization (DAC-U) device and its ultra-thin nanomembrane is on display at Expo 2025, Osaka, Kansai, Japan. The machine on the right captures the carbon dioxide, which the machine on the left converts to usable fuels or chemicals.<\/p><\/div>\n \u201cUsing ultra-thin synthetic membranes to filter the air is an innovative technology unlike any other,\u201d says Fujikawa.<\/p>\n DAC-U\u2019s technology allows the research team to take a less conventional approach to carbon capture. Most current processes require significant amounts of land, money and energy. But as nanomembranes have lower energy requirements for capturing CO\u2082, Fujikawa is able to focus on developing small-scale, decentralized carbon capture that can take place even in densely populated cities like those in Japan, where large plots of land are scarce.<\/p>\n \u201cOur message is that CO\u2082 capture can be ubiquitous\u2014it can happen anywhere and anytime, in a school, factory or home,\u201d says Fujikawa.<\/p>\n Fujikawa\u2019s team is currently working on reducing the size of the machine, while improving its efficiency. The ultimate goal is for the machine to be able to meet the energy needs of an average household.<\/p>\n \u201cThe key is local production, local consumption. By capturing and recycling carbon on a local scale, this brings us one step closer to achieving a carbon-neutral society,\u201d says Fujikawa.<\/p>\n Fig. 2. Professor Shigenori Fujikawa and his research team at Expo 2025. From left to right: Roman Selyanchyn (Associate Professor, Kyushu University), Shigenori Fujikawa, (Professor, Kyushu University), Kimihiro Matsukawa (Specially Appointed Professor, Kyoto Institute of Technology), Ryo Tomeba (Technical Staff, Kyushu University).<\/p><\/div>\n For more information about this exhibit, see RITE Future Forest: https:\/\/rite.or.jp\/expo2025\/en\/<\/a><\/p>\n About the International Institute for Carbon-Neutral Energy Research (WPI-I\u00b2CNER), Kyushu University<\/b> About the World Premier International Research Center Initiative (WPI)<\/b> See the latest research news from the centers at the WPI News Portal: https:\/\/www.eurekalert.org\/newsportal\/WPI<\/a><\/p>\n Shigenori Fujikawa, Professor![\"\"](\"https:\/\/sdgs.kyushu-u.ac.jp\/kanri\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/pc_page-2.jpg\")
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/sdgs.kyushu-u.ac.jp\/kanri\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/pc_page-3-300x213.jpg\")
\nI\u00b2CNER’s<\/a> mission is to contribute to the creation of a sustainable and environmentally-friendly society by advancing low-carbon emission and cost-effective energy systems, and improvement of energy efficiency. Through its mission-driven basic research, I\u00b2CNER has been developing and conducting research on scientific technologies to drastically reduce CO2 emissions.<\/p>\n
\nThe WPI program was launched in 2007 by Japan’s Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) to foster globally visible research centers boasting the highest standards and outstanding research environments. Numbering more than a dozen and operating at institutions throughout the country, these centers are given a high degree of autonomy, allowing them to engage in innovative modes of management and research. The program is administered by the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS).<\/p>\nContact<\/h4>\n
\nInternational Institute for Carbon-Neutral Energy Research
\nTEL: +81-92-802-6872
\nMail: fujikawa.shigenori.137\u2605m.kyushu-u.ac.jp
\nPlease replace \u2605 with @
\nPlease also check this on the website\uff1a
\nKyushu University Website<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"At Expo 2025\u2019s carbon capture demonstration plant, step into a future where household devices can capture and reuse carbon from the air. Osaka, Japan\u2014Imagine a future home powered by the air inside it. In this home, a sleek, silver machine\u2014no larger than a typical outdoor air conditioning unit\u2014runs quietly and continuously. Its job? To capture […]","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":25706,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[27,29,31,33],"tags":[80],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sdgs.kyushu-u.ac.jp\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25650"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sdgs.kyushu-u.ac.jp\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sdgs.kyushu-u.ac.jp\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sdgs.kyushu-u.ac.jp\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sdgs.kyushu-u.ac.jp\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=25650"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/sdgs.kyushu-u.ac.jp\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25650\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":25878,"href":"https:\/\/sdgs.kyushu-u.ac.jp\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25650\/revisions\/25878"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sdgs.kyushu-u.ac.jp\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/25706"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sdgs.kyushu-u.ac.jp\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=25650"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sdgs.kyushu-u.ac.jp\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=25650"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sdgs.kyushu-u.ac.jp\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=25650"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}