Climate CEOs: Scaling Startups Carbon Capture: $32M Invested, 50% Lower Costs, MIT Tech [👏 Interview]
Nov 10, 2025
In this engaging discussion, Cam Halliday, co-founder and CEO of Mantle Capture and an MIT-trained chemical engineer, dives deep into innovative molten-borate carbon capture technology. He shares insights on reducing carbon capture costs by up to 50% and discusses the advantages of high-temperature capture methods. Cam explains the importance of recovering usable heat and the unique properties of borate materials in CO2 binding. He reflects on his journey from research to entrepreneurship, along with essential advice for aspiring innovators in the climate tech sector.
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Molten Borates Enable Durable High‑Temp Cycling
- Molten borates are unique as a high-temperature liquid CO2 solvent that can capture and regenerate pure CO2.
- Liquids self-reform each cycle, avoiding solid-phase degradation at 600°C+.
From Solid-Phase Failure To Liquid Breakthrough
- Cam's team sought durable high‑temperature solids but observed an unexpected thousand-cycle run.
- They discovered the performance jump was due to a liquid phase that self-renews each cycle.
Use AI To Accelerate, Not Replace, Discovery
- Use AI to speed materials search but still validate with experiments.
- Don't expect AI to replace chance discoveries or replace the need for lab proof.
