The “sponge” captures and then releases carbon dioxide using the power of sunlight, according to scientific journal Angewandte Chem, where the research was published.

The sponge is made from a smart material called MOF, or metal organic framework, which absorbs carbon dioxide and then immediately releases it if when exposed to sunlight.

According to the CSIRO, this capture and release method known as dynamic photo-switching is extremely energy efficient. It requires just UV light to trigger the release of CO2 after it has been captured from the mixture of exhaust gases.

The traditional process for carbon dioxide capture has been to use liquid absorbers such as amines to remove flu gases at a coal-fired power station before they are released into the atmosphere.

They are then heated to release the CO2, which is stored and can be reused. This process can consume as a much as 30% of a power plant's production capacity.

Dr Matthew Hill, who was awarded a 2012 Eureka Prize for his MOF research and led the CSIRO group conducting the research, said: "The capture and release process can be compared to soaking up water with a sponge and then wringing it out.

“When UV light hits the material, its structure bends and twists and stored gas is released.

"This is an exciting development for carbon capture because concentrated solar energy can be used instead of further coal-based energy to drive the process.”

In their paper titled Dynamic Photo-Switching in Metal Organic Frameworks as a Route to Low Energy Carbon Dioxide Capture and Release CSIRO researchers show that when exposed to concentrated UV light, the MOF sponge instantaneously releases up to 64 per cent of absorbed CO2.