Electrochemical carbon capture, which harnesses redox-active species or applied potential to drive the selective uptake and release of carbon, is rapidly emerging as a compelling alternative to traditional thermal- or pressure-swing methods. This approach offers lower energy consumption, enhanced selectivity, and compatibility with modular, distributed systems. As the field gains momentum across chemistry, materials science, and chemical engineering, and as the urgency of scalable carbon management intensifies, this is a critical moment to unite leading researchers, define shared challenges, and accelerate collaborative discovery.

This workshop will convene scientists working at the molecular, materials, and process levels to explore the fundamental chemistry underpinning electrochemical carbon capture. Emphasis will be placed on molecular mechanisms of CO2 binding and release; structure–function relationships; electrolyte design and interfacial phenomena; thermodynamics and kinetics of capture cycles; atomistic and process modeling; process design, and pathways for active material degradation and regeneration. The scope will include both concentrated and dilute capture contexts—including point-source emissions, direct air capture, ocean capture, and reactive capture systems that integrate separation with downstream electrochemical transformation. By integrating molecular design, theory, characterizations, modeling, and electrochemical engineering, the workshop aims to identify unifying principles and performance-limiting bottlenecks across scales.

In line with Telluride’s collaborative and discussion-driven format, participants will be encouraged to share unpublished results and early-stage ideas to catalyze new insights and partnerships. By focusing on the molecular science that underlies emerging electrochemical separation technologies, this meeting will help chart a scientific roadmap for enabling transformative advances in carbon capture.