Biomimetic dendritic architectures as next-generation promoters for efficient methane hydrate formation

Slow nucleation and inefficient mass and heat transfer remain major obstacles to the practical application of methane hydrates. In this study, a cellulose-based biomimetic dendritic promoter (BDP) was developed to address these limitations by coupling hierarchical geometric design with controllable microstructural properties. A family of dendritic geometries inspired by natural branching (S1-S6) was first evaluated, and an integrated configuration (S6, 10.6 cm) was identified as the most effective for simultaneously maintaining capillary water supply and increasing gas-liquid-solid interfacial exposure under agitation-free conditions. To isolate material effects, five cellulose-based porous materials with distinct crystallinity and pore structures were then fabricated into BDPs with the same S6 geometry. Systematic characterization and hydrate formation tests reveal that materials with dense fiber networks and well-connected small pores significantly enhance hydrate nucleation and growth. Among them, BDP-1 exhibited the shortest induction time and the highest methane consumption: hydrate formation was triggered within 50 s, and the final methane consumption reached 0.057 mol under additive-free conditions, corresponding to an approximately 6.3-fold increase over pure water. Multiscale analysis further suggests that this promotion arises from the interplay of heterogeneous nucleation, staggered-layer-mediated transport, interface-suction-driven water redistribution, and fiber-guided growth. This work establishes an adaptable and low-cost strategy for designing high-performance hydrate promoters and provides transferable insights for energy storage, CO₂ capture, and hydrate-based separation technologies.