The AEROPILs generation: Novel poly(ionic liquid)‐based aerogels for CO2 capture

CO₂ levels in the atmosphere are increasing exponentially. The current climate change effects motivate an urgent need for new and sustainable materials to capture CO₂. Porous materials are particularly interesting for processes that take place near atmospheric pressure. However, materials design should not only consider the morphology, but also the chemical identity of the CO₂ sorbent to enhance the affinity towards CO₂. Poly(ionic liquid)s (PILs) can enhance CO₂ sorption capacity, but tailoring the porosity is still a challenge. Aerogel’s properties grant production strategies that ensure a porosity control. In this work, we joined both worlds, PILs and aerogels, to produce a sustainable CO2 sorbent. PIL‐chitosan aerogels (AEROPILs) in the form of beads were successfully obtained with high porosity (94.6–97.0 %) and surface areas (270–744 m²/g). AEROPILs were applied for the first time as CO₂ sorbents. The combination of PILs with chitosan aerogels generally increased the CO2 sorption capability of these materials, being the maximum CO2 capture capacity obtained (0.70 mmol g⁻¹, at 25 °C and 1 bar) for the CHT:P[DADMA]Cl30% AEROPIL.