Researchers at ETH Zurich have developed a novel material that removes carbon dioxide from the air with the help of cyanobacteria while simultaneously building mechanical strength. The foundation of the project is a hydrogel that serves as a carrier matrix for the photosynthetically active microorganisms and can be shaped into complex, functional structures using 3D printing. The material responds not only biologically but also changes its physical properties over time.
The embedded cyanobacteria—also known as blue-green algae—are capable of converting CO₂ into biomass through photosynthesis. Additionally, their metabolic processes chemically alter the surrounding matrix, resulting in the formation of solid carbonates. This dual mechanism enables the material to store CO₂ both in organic and mineral forms.
“As a building material, it could one day help store CO₂ directly within structures,” says Mark Tibbitt, Professor of Macromolecular Engineering at ETH Zurich. “That’s because the material can store carbon not only in biomass but also in mineral form—a unique feature of blue-green algae.”
Yifan Cui, one of the study’s two first authors, explains: “Cyanobacteria are among the oldest life forms on Earth. They perform photosynthesis with high efficiency and can even utilize the weakest light to produce biomass from CO₂ and water.”
The structures developed as part of the project were specifically designed for light permeability, nutrient distribution, and surface optimization. This ensured that the microorganisms remained active for over a year. This property makes the material particularly interesting for architectural applications. Possible uses include facade coatings or modular components that actively remove CO₂ from the atmosphere throughout their life cycle.
Co-first author Dalia Dranseike adds: “We created structures that only partially touch the nutrient solution and passively distribute it throughout the material via capillary forces.”
“Going forward, we want to explore how the material can be used as a coating for building facades to bind CO₂ over the entire lifecycle of a structure,” Tibbitt says.
Initial prototype applications have already been realized as part of international exhibitions, such as the Venice Architecture Biennale and the Milan Triennale. In these instances, the living materials served not only as functional components but also as a design element that made microbiological processes visible. The work is part of the ALIVE initiative, through which ETH promotes interdisciplinary research on living materials.
“One of the biggest challenges was scaling the production process from the laboratory to architectural dimensions,” says ETH doctoral student Andrea Shin Ling, who also contributed to the study.
“The installation is an experiment—we adapted the Canada Pavilion to provide sufficient light, humidity, and warmth for the cyanobacteria to thrive. Now we’re observing how they behave,” says Ling. This is a commitment: the team monitors and maintains the installation on-site—daily. Until November 23.
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