Abstract: A carbon dioxide capture composition includes a hydroxide-ion-exchanged poly(N-vinyl guanidine)-based polymer material as a sorbent. A method of preparing the carbon dioxide capture composition includes contacting a poly(N-vinyl guanidine)-based polymer material with hydroxide ion exchange beads, and exchanging hydroxide ion into the poly(N-vinyl guanidine)-based polymer material to form the sorbent. A carbon dioxide capture method includes contacting the sorbent with a gas stream, and sorbing carbon dioxide in the gas stream with the sorbent. A carbon dioxide capture system includes a sorption bed having a hydroxide-ion-exchanged poly(N-vinyl guanidine)-based polymer material as a sorbent.

Abstract: A polymer composite includes a polymer substrate, activated carbon, and a carbonate salt. The activated carbon is infused with the carbonate salt. A hybrid composite includes a fibrous mat with activated carbon and potassium carbonate crystals adhered to the fibrous mat. Making a polymer composite includes combining activated carbon with a polymer to yield a mixture, and electrospinning the mixture to yield nanofibers, wherein the carbonate salt is adhered to or embedded in the nanofibers. Capturing carbon dioxide from a quantity of air includes contacting the polymer composite with the quantity of air in the presence of water vapor to yield potassium bicarbonate sorbed on the polymer composite.

Abstract: Systems and methods for preparing encapsulant-containing polymer capsules and fibers, as well as the encapsulant-containing polymer capsules and fibers and composites including the same are described. In one example, forming a plurality of encapsulant-containing polymer capsules includes preparing a mixture comprising a polymer, a solvent, an encapsulant, and a polymer that is soluble in the solvent, and removing some of the solvent from the mixture to yield the plurality of polymer capsules. Each polymer capsule include a shell formed of the polymer and contains the encapsulant. In another example, forming a plurality of polymer fibers containing an encapsulant includes providing the mixture to an electrospin apparatus and electrospinning the mixture to yield the plurality polymer fibers, where each polymer fiber defines a hollow core that contains the encapsulant.