Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Carbon nanotubes production from real-world waste plastics and the pyrolysis behaviour

Researchers produced carbon nanotubes from real-world waste plastics through pyrolysis, characterizing the thermal decomposition behavior of mixed plastic waste and demonstrating a valuable upcycling pathway for plastic pollution.

2023 Waste Management 49 citations
Article Tier 2

Hydrogen and Carbon Nanotubes from Pyrolysis-Catalysis of Waste Plastics: A Review

This review examines how pyrolysis of waste plastics coupled with steam reforming or catalytic processes can produce hydrogen gas and high-quality carbon nanotubes, covering different reactor designs and catalyst types. The work highlights waste plastics as a potentially valuable feedstock for generating both clean energy and advanced carbon materials.

2020 Waste and Biomass Valorization 241 citations
Article Tier 2

Synthesis of Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes from Plastic Waste Using a Stainless-Steel CVD Reactor as Catalyst

Carbon nanotubes were successfully synthesized from polypropylene plastic waste using a simple reactor, turning plastic waste into a high-value nanomaterial. This approach could provide an economically attractive way to deal with plastic waste while creating useful materials.

2017 Nanomaterials 63 citations
Article Tier 2

Preparation of high quality carbon nanotubes by catalytic pyrolysis of waste plastics using FeNi-based catalyst

Researchers developed a method to produce high-quality carbon nanotubes from waste polyethylene plastics using iron-nickel catalysts. The study found that varying the catalyst composition affected nanotube quality and yield, demonstrating a promising approach for converting plastic waste into valuable nanomaterials rather than allowing it to persist as pollution.

2024 Waste Management 17 citations
Article Tier 2

Production of combustible fuels and carbon nanotubes from plastic wastes using an in-situ catalytic microwave pyrolysis process

Researchers developed an in-situ catalytic microwave pyrolysis process using ZSM-5 catalyst to convert plastic waste into hydrogen, liquid fuel, and carbon nanotubes, demonstrating a promising route for both energy recovery and valuable material production from plastic pollution.

2023 Scientific Reports 52 citations
Article Tier 2

Upcycling Waste Plastics into Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotube Composites via NiCo2O4 Catalytic Pyrolysis

Researchers used catalytic pyrolysis — heating plastic waste with metal catalysts — to convert post-consumer plastics into carbon nanotube composites, a high-value industrial material. Bimetallic nickel-cobalt catalysts produced the best results. This approach could help valorize plastic waste while reducing the volumes that end up in the environment as microplastic pollution.

2021 Catalysts 21 citations
Article Tier 2

Recent developments in catalytic materials and reactors for the catalytic pyrolysis of plastic waste into hydrogen: a critical review with a focus on the circular economy

This review examines recent developments in catalytic materials and reactor designs for converting plastic waste into hydrogen through pyrolysis. The study discusses how catalyst-assisted pyrolysis can transform plastic waste into valuable hydrogen fuel, contributing to circular economy goals while addressing the growing plastic pollution problem.

2025 RSC Advances 8 citations
Article Tier 2

Upcycling plastic waste into electrode materials for energy storage applications

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.

2025 Open Collections
Article Tier 2

A Comprehensive Review on the Thermochemical Treatment of Plastic Waste to Produce High Value Products for Different Applications

This review summarizes methods for converting plastic waste into valuable products using high-temperature chemical processes like pyrolysis and plasma technology. These approaches can produce hydrogen fuel, carbon nanotubes, and other useful materials from plastic that would otherwise become pollution. Reducing plastic waste through better recycling technology is important because most microplastic pollution originates from improperly managed plastic products.

2025 Materials Circular Economy 22 citations
Article Tier 2

Upcycling of face masks to application-rich multi- and single-walled carbon nanotubes

Disposable face masks from the COVID-19 pandemic were converted into high-value single-walled and multi-walled carbon nanotubes through a thermal upcycling process. The resulting nanotubes showed properties suitable for use in electronics and materials applications. This approach demonstrates a path for converting pandemic plastic waste into advanced materials rather than landfill.

2022 Carbon letters 6 citations
Article Tier 2

Preparation of heterojunction C3N4/WO3 photocatalyst for degradation of microplastics in water

Researchers synthesized a carbon nitride/tungsten oxide heterojunction photocatalyst that effectively degrades PET microplastics in water while simultaneously generating hydrogen, offering a dual-benefit approach to addressing plastic pollution through photocatalysis.

2023 Chemosphere 52 citations
Article Tier 2

Electro-upcycling of PET plastic coupled with hydrogen production using the NiCe@NiTe electrocatalyst

Researchers coupled electrochemical PET plastic degradation with hydrogen production using a nickel-cerium telluride electrocatalyst, demonstrating that PET microplastics can be simultaneously upcycled into value-added chemicals while generating clean hydrogen fuel.

2025 Journal of Materials Chemistry A 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Potential contribution of nanotechnolgy to the circular economy of plastic materials

This paper reviews how nanotechnology could support a circular plastic economy by improving recycled plastic properties and enabling catalytic breakdown of plastics into reusable monomers. Nano-additives and nano-catalysts are identified as promising tools for shifting plastic management from linear waste to resource recovery.

2020 Acta Innovations 12 citations
Article Tier 2

Structure-oriented conversions of plastics to carbon nanomaterials

This review examines strategies for converting waste plastics into carbon nanomaterials including nanotubes, graphene, and porous carbon, highlighting how different plastic structures influence the resulting carbon products and offering a promising approach to reduce plastic pollution.

2022 Carbon Research 84 citations
Article Tier 2

Solar-driven hydrogen evolution in alkaline seawater over earth-abundant g-C3N4/CuFeO2 heterojunction photocatalyst using microplastic as a feedstock

Researchers developed an earth-abundant photocatalyst that can produce hydrogen fuel by breaking down polyester microplastics using solar energy and seawater. The study demonstrates that this novel material achieved over 60-fold enhanced hydrogen production compared to its individual components, suggesting a promising approach for simultaneously addressing plastic pollution and sustainable energy generation.

2023 Chemical Engineering Journal 39 citations
Article Tier 2

Photoreforming of Nonrecyclable Plastic Waste over a Carbon Nitride/Nickel Phosphide Catalyst

A carbon nitride/nickel phosphide photocatalyst was used to photoreform non-recyclable PET and PLA plastic waste at ambient temperature, producing clean hydrogen fuel and organic chemicals without precious metals or toxic components. The study demonstrates a low-energy, scalable approach to converting plastic waste into valuable chemical feedstocks using sunlight.

2019 Journal of the American Chemical Society 632 citations
Article Tier 2

Photoreforming of PET and PLA microplastics for sustainable hydrogen production using TiO2 and g-C3N4 photocatalysts

Researchers used photoreforming—a light-driven process—to break down PET and PLA microplastics while simultaneously generating hydrogen gas, demonstrating a dual-benefit approach that addresses plastic pollution while producing clean energy from waste plastic.

2025 Journal of environmental chemical engineering 4 citations
Article Tier 2

Electrochemical Degradation of Plastic Waste Coupled with Hydrogen Evolution in Seawater Using Rosette‐Like High‐Entropy Oxides

Scientists developed an electrochemical method using high-entropy oxide nanosheets to break down polyglycolic acid (PGA) plastic waste while simultaneously producing hydrogen fuel from seawater. The process converts plastic-derived glycolic acid into carbonate at high efficiency while requiring significantly less energy than conventional water-splitting approaches. This dual-purpose technology offers a potential pathway for addressing plastic pollution while generating clean energy.

2025 Advanced Science 5 citations
Article Tier 2

Emerging materials and technologies for electrocatalytic seawater splitting

This review examines technologies for splitting seawater to produce hydrogen fuel, focusing on electrode materials and device design challenges. While not related to microplastics, the research addresses renewable energy production that could reduce dependence on petroleum-based plastics by supporting a shift toward cleaner energy sources. Reducing fossil fuel use is indirectly relevant to addressing the root causes of plastic pollution.

2023 Science Advances 303 citations
Article Tier 2

Fuel cell and electrolyzer using plastic waste directly as fuel

Researchers demonstrated an electrochemical cell that converts solid plastic waste directly into electricity or hydrogen gas without incineration or gasification, using an acidic solution to dissolve polyurethane at 100–200 °C and oxidize it at a porous carbon anode.

2019 Waste Management 33 citations
Article Tier 2

H2 Production from Real Wastes of Polyethylene Terephthalate and Polylactic Acid using CNx/Ni2P Nanocatalyst

Researchers developed a photocatalytic process using a novel nanocatalyst to convert real plastic waste from PET bottles and PLA bioplastics into hydrogen gas. The process achieved maximum hydrogen yields of 124 and 267 micromol per gram for PET and PLA respectively, offering a dual benefit of plastic waste valorization and clean energy production.

2023 International Journal of Clinical Case Reports and Reviews 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Comprehensive Insights into Photoreforming of Waste Plastics for Hydrogen Production

This review examines photocatalytic "photoreforming" — a solar-powered process that breaks down waste plastics while simultaneously generating hydrogen fuel and useful chemical byproducts. Recent advances in catalyst design, including semiconductor materials and metal-organic frameworks, are analyzed alongside factors like light intensity and pH that affect hydrogen output. This dual-purpose approach could help address both the global plastic waste crisis and the need for clean energy simultaneously.

2025 Preprints.org 1 citations
Article Tier 2

From Waste to Worth: Upcycling Plastic into High-Value Carbon-Based Nanomaterials

This study reviewed innovative methods for converting plastic waste into high-value carbon-based nanomaterials like graphene and carbon nanotubes. Researchers examined several techniques including pyrolysis, chemical vapor deposition, and flash joule heating, finding that thermal decomposition is currently the most scalable approach for industrial applications. The study suggests that turning plastic waste into advanced materials could help address pollution while also creating economically valuable products.

2024 Polymers 25 citations
Article Tier 2

From waste to energy - Photocatalytic anaerobic degradation of microplastics to generate hydrogen

Researchers demonstrated that microplastic particles can serve as solid hydrogen sources in anaerobic photocatalytic reactions using titanium dioxide as a catalyst. This proof-of-concept converts plastic waste into clean hydrogen fuel while potentially reducing environmental microplastic loads.

2023