Minireview on Direct Air Capture via Solid Sorbents: Recent Advances and Future Prospects

Direct air capture (DAC) has gained significant attention as a negative emission technology, among which solid–sorbent-based methods demonstrate considerable potential due to their low energy requirements, material diversity, and operational flexibility. This review focuses on four major classes of adsorbent materials, porous organic frameworks, amine-functionalized adsorbents, alkali-based sorbents, and moisture-swing materials, systematically examining their adsorption mechanisms, performance metrics, and modification strategies while also analyzing engineering challenges related to system design, energy optimization, and techno-economic viability. The core perspective of this review emphasizes that solid–sorbent DAC is rapidly transitioning from laboratory-scale research to industrial implementation. Continued innovation in material design, process optimization, and system integration holds promise for substantially reducing capture costs and making a meaningful contribution to global carbon neutrality goals.