Groundbreaking Method to Create Clean Polymers for Reducing Greenhouse Gases

**Tohoku University researchers have engineered a method to synthesize ultra-pure porous organic polymers (POPs) which are instrumental in battling greenhouse gas emissions.** These polymers act like sponges, soaking up harmful pollutants such as CO2 due to their high porosity. Previously, synthesizing POPs left metal impurities that compromised their functionality. **This new method employs iodine as an oxidant, which can be completely removed, resulting in impurity-free POPs.** The POPs created showcase unprecedented specific surface areas and improved porosity, leading to superior CO2 adsorption capacity. **For the first time, these polymers also displayed intrinsic functionalities, including proton conductivity and unique gas adsorption behavior that could lead to applications in fuel cells and as adsorbents.** Such advancements mark a significant step towards developing organic materials with inherent functionalities, contributing to the global effort to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions in an era of urgent climate challenges.