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Dual carbon sequestration with photosynthetic living materials

Author

Listed:
  • Dalia Dranseike

    (ETH Zurich)

  • Yifan Cui

    (ETH Zurich)

  • Andrea S. Ling

    (ETH Zurich)

  • Felix Donat

    (ETH Zurich)

  • Stéphane Bernhard

    (ETH Zurich)

  • Margherita Bernero

    (ETH Zurich)

  • Akhil Areeckal

    (ETH Zurich)

  • Marco Lazic

    (ETH Zurich)

  • Xiao-Hua Qin

    (ETH Zurich)

  • John S. Oakey

    (University of Wyoming)

  • Benjamin Dillenburger

    (ETH Zurich)

  • André R. Studart

    (ETH Zurich)

  • Mark W. Tibbitt

    (ETH Zurich)

Abstract

Natural ecosystems efficiently sequester CO2 but containing and controlling living systems remains challenging. Here, we engineer a photosynthetic living material for dual CO2 sequestration that leverages biomass production and insoluble carbonate formation via microbially induced carbonate precipitation (MICP). To achieve this, we immobilize photosynthetic microorganisms within a printable polymeric network. Digital design and fabrication of the living structures ensure sufficient light access and nutrient supply to encapsulated cyanobacteria, enabling long-term culture for over a year. We showcase that photosynthetic living materials are able to sequester 2.2 ± 0.9 mg of CO2 per gram of hydrogel material over 30 days and 26 ± 7 mg of CO2 over 400 days. These findings highlight the potential of photosynthetic living materials for scalable, low-maintenance carbon sequestration with applications in carbon-neutral infrastructure and CO2 mitigation.

Suggested Citation

  • Dalia Dranseike & Yifan Cui & Andrea S. Ling & Felix Donat & Stéphane Bernhard & Margherita Bernero & Akhil Areeckal & Marco Lazic & Xiao-Hua Qin & John S. Oakey & Benjamin Dillenburger & André R. Stu, 2025. "Dual carbon sequestration with photosynthetic living materials," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-13, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:16:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-025-58761-y
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-58761-y
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Daniel Wangpraseurt & Shangting You & Farooq Azam & Gianni Jacucci & Olga Gaidarenko & Mark Hildebrand & Michael Kühl & Alison G. Smith & Matthew P. Davey & Alyssa Smith & Dimitri D. Deheyn & Shaochen, 2020. "Bionic 3D printed corals," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 11(1), pages 1-8, December.
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