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Upcycling of polyethylene terephthalate plastic waste to microporous carbon structure for energy storage
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This study upcycled waste polyethylene terephthalate bottles into electrochemical carbon material using electrospinning, producing a mixed amorphous carbon and reduced graphene oxide material suitable for double-layer supercapacitors. Electrochemical characterization confirmed combined double-layer and pseudo-capacitance behavior with a self-strengthening effect, demonstrating an environmentally and economically advantageous pathway for PET waste valorization.
Abstract Plastic pollution and its harmful effects on the earth ecosystem, which inevitably affect quality of life, have brought attention to the frontiers of research society. Among plastics, polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is used on a massive scale in various sectors of industry, including the automobile, textile, and packaging. Utilizing an electrospinning fiber production technique, we have successfully upcycled PET waste bottle into electrochemical active carbon material that functions as a double‐layer supercapacitor substance. Our detailed electrochemical and analytical characterization revealed that the generated carbon substance is a mixture of amorphous carbon and reduced graphene oxide with relatively high surface area. The electrochemical characterization of the as‐prepared material consisting of cyclic voltammetry, galvanostatic cycling with potential limitations, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy analyses revealed that the generated medium has combined characteristics of both double‐layer and redox reaction pseudo‐capacitance with self‐strengthening effect along cycling. We believe that the proposed process is scalable with environmental and economic advantages and this study could present opportunities for future research and development.
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Upcycling plastic waste into electrode materials for energy storage applications
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Researchers reviewed approaches for upcycling plastic waste into electrode materials for energy storage applications, finding that discarded plastics including polyethylene, polypropylene, and PET can be converted through pyrolysis and chemical activation into carbon-based electrodes for supercapacitors and batteries, addressing both plastic pollution and energy storage challenges simultaneously.
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This review examines cascade degradation and electrocatalytic upcycling strategies for PET waste, categorizing approaches into pyrolysis and hydrolysis-based pathways that convert plastic waste into high-value electrocatalysts and chemical products. The review identifies key challenges and future prospects for developing economical PET upcycling technologies within a circular economy framework.
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Researchers converted PET bottle waste into electrospun fibers — thin filaments with diverse industrial applications — as an approach to recycling plastic waste. Transforming PET waste into useful fibers prevents it from fragmenting into microplastics in the environment.
Sustainable Adsorption of Polystyrene Microplastics in Aqueous Media Using PET-C Synthesized from Plastic Waste: DFT and Experimental Studies
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Researchers converted PET plastic waste into activated carbon (PET-C) via direct carbonisation and KOH activation, then tested it for adsorbing polystyrene microplastics. PET-C achieved a maximum adsorption capacity of 139.57 mg/g via monolayer chemical adsorption, demonstrating a circular approach to using plastic waste to remove plastic pollution.
Low-cost activated carbon from the pyrolysis of post-consumer plastic waste and the application in CO2 capture
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Researchers prepared low-cost activated carbon from char residue generated during the pyrolysis of post-consumer plastic waste and tested its application for CO2 capture. The study demonstrates that plastic waste pyrolysis byproducts can be repurposed into useful porous materials, offering a dual benefit of chemical recycling and carbon capture.
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When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.