The algae investigated at the centre not only produces biofuel, but can also be used to efficiently produce polyacrylonitrile (PAN) fibres. Dr Katy Armstrong, a chemical engineer at the University of Sheffield, said the process was "promising and very interesting on a lab scale" but that Prof Licht's bigger vision might be problematic. .css-gw44ni-IconContainer{display:inline-block;height:1em;width:1em;vertical-align:-0.125em;margin-right:0.25em;}playWhat does Ethiopia's Tigray crisis mean for the region? The team says it can be "scaled up" and could have an impact on CO2 emissions, but other researchers are unsure. As the non-carbon atoms are expelled, the remaining carbon atoms form tightly bonded carbon crystals that are aligned more or less parallel to the long axis of the fiber. What were the motives behind Iranian scientist killing? Carbon nanofibres are already used in high-end applications such as electronic components and batteries, and if costs came down they could be used more extensively - improving the strong, lightweight carbon composites used in aircraft and car components, for example. As the non-carbon atoms are expelled, the remaining carbon atoms form tightly bonded carbon crystals that are aligned more or less parallel to the long axis of the fiber. .css-orcmk8-HeadlineContainer{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-box-pack:justify;-webkit-justify-content:space-between;-ms-flex-pack:justify;justify-content:space-between;}Sydney records hottest November night on record.css-1dedj2h-Rank{-webkit-align-self:center;-ms-flex-item-align:center;align-self:center;color:#B80000;margin-left:3.125rem;}1, Durham van traveller Esther Dingley missing in Pyrenees2, Zappos ex-boss and Las Vegas entrepreneur Tony Hsieh, 46, dies after house fire3, Covid: Boris Johnson writes to MPs to quell anger over new tiers4, American football: Sarah Fuller makes history as first woman in a Power 5 game5, Serbia and Montenegro expel respective ambassadors6, Serbia coronavirus: The Church losing its leaders to the pandemic7, Mohsen Fakhrizadeh: What were the motives behind his killing?8, France: Tear gas fired as protesters rally against police security bill9, Hundreds get wrong results due to Covid test error10. Gary Barlow: 'I'm not as confident as I was at 21', 'I think about the London Bridge attack every day', When does lockdown actually end? .css-8h1dth-Link{font-family:ReithSans,Helvetica,Arial,freesans,sans-serif;font-weight:700;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;color:#FFFFFF;}.css-8h1dth-Link:hover,.css-8h1dth-Link:focus{-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;}Read about our approach to external linking. Membership is FREE to qualified industry professionals across Australia. Ethiopian PM claims capture of Tigray capital. Sustainable packaging packs a punch at APCO awards. Thanks to their strength they save on cement, and granite reinforced with carbon fibre can even be used to produce beams that have the same load-bearing capacity as steel but are as lightweight as aluminium. .css-14iz86j-BoldText{font-weight:bold;}Scientists in the US have found a way to take carbon dioxide (CO2) from the air and make carbon nanofibres, a valuable manufacturing material. Locked Bag 2226 He also suggested that the system could provide "a reasonable path to bring down CO2 levels in the atmosphere". This also makes the process clearly superior to carbon capture and storage (CCS) in the underground.”. .css-1hlxxic-PromoLink:link{color:inherit;}.css-1hlxxic-PromoLink:visited{color:#696969;}.css-1hlxxic-PromoLink:link,.css-1hlxxic-PromoLink:visited{-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}.css-1hlxxic-PromoLink:link:hover,.css-1hlxxic-PromoLink:visited:hover,.css-1hlxxic-PromoLink:link:focus,.css-1hlxxic-PromoLink:visited:focus{color:#B80000;-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;}.css-1hlxxic-PromoLink:link::after,.css-1hlxxic-PromoLink:visited::after{content:'';position:absolute;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;left:0;z-index:2;}Funding for new carbon capture power station research, Sea urchin nickel 'trick' could be key to capturing carbon, Petrol from air revisited: The energy storage debate. A closer look reveals some interesting numbers: a … Mohsen Fakhrizadeh: What were the motives behind his killing? The idea of turning CO2 from the air into useful products is a popular one, and the field is strewn with many more unfulfilled promises than success stories. But to be certain, Brück's team suggests burying used-up, shredded carbon fiber … In fact, one form of carbon fiber—the carbon nanotube—is considered the strongest material available. "These cells are relatively inexpensive in terms of energy consumption - it's definitely a realistic approach to producing the nanofibres," he said. Dr Paul Fennell, a chemical engineer and clean energy researcher at Imperial College London, said: "If they can make carbon nanofibres, that is a laudable aim and they're a worthwhile product to have. ABN: 22 152 305 336 A closer look reveals some interesting numbers: a … The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Image credit: A Battenberg/TUM. Chemists from the Technical University of Munich (TUM) have developed a process that, according to initial calculations, provides an economic way of removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere — and creates valuable new materials at the same time. www.wfmedia.com.au Carbon fibre's journey from racetrack to hatchback, Sydney records hottest November night on record.