Let’s call a spade a spade. The weather’s going haywire and we’re the ones to blame. We’re putting so much CO2 into the air that we’re wrecking the planet. This isn’t just some far-off problem for our kids to deal with, it’s a crisis happening right now, right here, and it’s time to face the music.
So, what are we gonna do about it?
Well, first we have to cut down on our CO2 emissions, that’s a no-brainer. But even if we do everything right — which, I’m afraid, won’t happen — there’s still going to be too much of that CO2 in the air.
The clock is ticking and the reality is, We need to start sucking that CO2 out of the sky.
That’s why I am so excited about Deloitte’s Quantum Climate Challenge. This initiative aims to figure out how we can harness the power of the holy-grail combo of quantum chemistry on quantum computers to revolutionize carbon capture materials.
Game on, carbon footprint.
The emerging technology of quantum computing could revolutionize the fight against climate change, transforming the economics of decarbonization and becoming a major factor in limiting global warming to the target temperature of 1.5°C
Mckinsey digital
Let’s talk MOFs
So, we’ve got scientists running around trying to find a way to capture all this CO2 we’ve been pumping into the air. They’ve looked at everything from metal oxides to activated carbons, but one material has stood out.
You guessed right: It’s metal-organic frameworks, aka MOFs.
These little things are a work of science art! Their inorganic metal clusters have been turning heads and their organic linkers have become the hot topic in the race to save our planet.
MOFs are a carbon capture dream with their high surface area, tunable pore size, and low heat capacity. But, to unleash their true power, we need to keep rolling up our sleeves and getting down and dirty with more smart molecular designs. We need to make sure MOFs have high CO2 uptake, stability, and won’t break the bank.
And we are doing it.
The preliminary results, well, speak for themselves. The pilot-scale demonstrations of MOF-based carbon capture showed great potential. Low energy consumption, low costs, and it’s all coming together to create something truly inspiring.
To drive forward the evolution of MOF technology and unveiling the intricacies of CO2 adsorption in these materials, quantum chemistry is a pivotal player. And with the promise of quantum computing strengthening the might of quantum chemistry, we hope to see a more effective and efficient way to reduce CO2 emissions and create a better world for all of us in the future.
Join the Quantum Climate Challenge
Once you participate in the Quantum Climate Challenge, you have the keys to the kingdom. You will have access to actual quantum computing, thanks to IBM, Amazon Web Service (AWS), and, of course, our Quantistry chemical simulation platform — which currently runs on classical cloud computing.
You will face two main tasks:
- Develop a quantum or hybrid algorithm to determine the minimum potential energy surface of gas molecules and ions combinations.
- Conceive a quantum or hybrid solution to expand the calculation from a single binding site to a 2D MOF unit cell, and from a single gas molecule to larger amount of substance.
By March the 12th, you will have to submit the results of the tasks, including your proposed algorithm, a comparison against a classical algorithm, your concepts on how to scale your solution, and a resource estimate of a quantum computer.
Have fun and… Good luck!
A final personal touch
I’m honestly pumped about this story. I finally landed a gig I can brag about. And sometimes I do. Like now: As a member of the Quantistry squad, I am proud that, together with heavy hitters like Deloitte, IBM, and AWS, we’ve made the Quantum Climate Challenge 2023 possible.
Let’s harness the power of quantum chemistry and quantum computing – the holy-grail combo. It’s time to face climate change head on.
