Live bacteria-infused sustainable building material traps CO2 from air

Researchers at ETH Zurich have developed an innovative, sustainable building material infused with live cyanobacteria that actively captures atmospheric carbon dioxide through photosynthesis and biocementation. This 3D-printed hydrogel-based material houses photosynthetic bacteria within a polymer network designed to optimize light, CO2, water, and nutrient flow, enabling the bacteria to remain productive for over a year. The material sequesters CO2 both biologically and by forming stable mineral carbonates, which strengthen the initially soft gel into a robust, hardened structure over time. Laboratory tests demonstrated that the material can bind approximately 26 milligrams of CO2 per gram, outperforming typical biological methods and rivaling chemical mineralization in recycled concrete. The technology has moved beyond the lab, with large-scale installations such as the "Picoplanktonics" exhibit at the Architecture Biennale in Venice, featuring three-meter-high structures capable of capturing up to 18 kilograms of CO2 annually—comparable to a mature pine tree.