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Self-Evolving PET-Induced Carbon Nanotube Modulated Ni Nanocomposites for Efficient PET-to-H2 Production
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Scientists developed a new method to turn plastic bottle waste (PET) into hydrogen gas, which can be used as clean fuel, using a special catalyst that keeps working efficiently over time instead of wearing out quickly. This matters because it offers a way to reduce plastic pollution, including the kind that breaks down into microplastics harmful to health, while producing clean energy instead of letting that plastic sit in landfills or oceans. While this is still lab-scale research, it points toward future technology that could tackle both the plastic crisis and our need for cleaner energy sources at the same time.
Abstract Upcycling polyethylene terephthalate (PET) into H2-rich syngas offers a route for plastic pollution mitigation and green energy production yet remains constrained by low efficiency and catalyst deactivation. Here we report a carbon nanotube (CNT)-modulated catalytic strategy integrating PET decomposition with steam reforming. PET was first upcycled into CNT-modulated Ni nanocomposites, where PET-derived CNTs acted as structural and electronic bridges linking Ni nanoparticles (NPs) with the oxide support. Among catalysts evaluated in decomposition-catalytic steam reforming (DCSR), CNT-modulated Ni NPs anchored on γ-Al2O3 nanosheets (Ni NPs@PET-CNTs/γ-Al2O3) achieved a H2-rich syngas yield of 141.74 mmol/gPET (3175 mL/gPET), with excellent stability and self-regeneration under continuous operation. Mechanistic analysis revealed that the synergy of Ni0, PET-derived CNTs, and γ-Al2O3 underpinned enhanced activity and durability. This work establishes a paradigm where plastic waste acts as a carbon feedstock and catalyst modulator, enabling scalable PET upcycling toward sustainable H2-rich syngas production and circular carbon utilization.
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