Emerging Plastic Recycling Strategies Based on Photothermal Conversion

Hanning Jiang; Yoon Jung Jang; Clotilde Tagnon; Erik A. Medina; Erin E. Stache

doi:10.1021/acsapm.4c03114

Emerging Plastic Recycling Strategies Based on Photothermal Conversion

Hanning Jiang, Yoon Jung Jang, Clotilde Tagnon, Erik A. Medina, Erin E. Stache

Chemistry

Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review

Abstract

Increasing plastic pollution presents a significant challenge for humanity and ecosystems. Photothermal (light-to-heat) conversion has emerged as a promising strategy for recycling plastic waste. Upon light irradiation, photothermal agents provide intense thermal gradients localized to their surfaces, wherein the heat exceeds the degradation temperature (T_d) of polymers, inducing efficient depolymerization and/or degradation. Thermoplastics (including polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), polystyrene (PS), and polycarbonate (PC)) and thermosets (epoxy resin) are subject to efficient degradation under mild conditions. This review summarizes some key results and advancements in polymer waste mitigation using photothermal conversion depolymerization and upcycling.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	1163-1174
Number of pages	12
Journal	ACS Applied Polymer Materials
Volume	7
Issue number	3
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1021/acsapm.4c03114
State	Published - Feb 14 2025

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

Process Chemistry and Technology
Polymers and Plastics
Organic Chemistry

Keywords

Plastic degradation
chemical recycling
light-to-heat
photochemistry
photothermal conversion
plastic upcycling
sustainability

Access to Document

10.1021/acsapm.4c03114

Cite this

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title = "Emerging Plastic Recycling Strategies Based on Photothermal Conversion",

abstract = "Increasing plastic pollution presents a significant challenge for humanity and ecosystems. Photothermal (light-to-heat) conversion has emerged as a promising strategy for recycling plastic waste. Upon light irradiation, photothermal agents provide intense thermal gradients localized to their surfaces, wherein the heat exceeds the degradation temperature (Td) of polymers, inducing efficient depolymerization and/or degradation. Thermoplastics (including polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), polystyrene (PS), and polycarbonate (PC)) and thermosets (epoxy resin) are subject to efficient degradation under mild conditions. This review summarizes some key results and advancements in polymer waste mitigation using photothermal conversion depolymerization and upcycling.",

keywords = "Plastic degradation, chemical recycling, light-to-heat, photochemistry, photothermal conversion, plastic upcycling, sustainability",

author = "Hanning Jiang and Jang, {Yoon Jung} and Clotilde Tagnon and Medina, {Erik A.} and Stache, {Erin E.}",

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doi = "10.1021/acsapm.4c03114",

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AU - Jiang, Hanning

AU - Jang, Yoon Jung

AU - Tagnon, Clotilde

AU - Medina, Erik A.

AU - Stache, Erin E.

PY - 2025/2/14

Y1 - 2025/2/14

N2 - Increasing plastic pollution presents a significant challenge for humanity and ecosystems. Photothermal (light-to-heat) conversion has emerged as a promising strategy for recycling plastic waste. Upon light irradiation, photothermal agents provide intense thermal gradients localized to their surfaces, wherein the heat exceeds the degradation temperature (Td) of polymers, inducing efficient depolymerization and/or degradation. Thermoplastics (including polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), polystyrene (PS), and polycarbonate (PC)) and thermosets (epoxy resin) are subject to efficient degradation under mild conditions. This review summarizes some key results and advancements in polymer waste mitigation using photothermal conversion depolymerization and upcycling.

AB - Increasing plastic pollution presents a significant challenge for humanity and ecosystems. Photothermal (light-to-heat) conversion has emerged as a promising strategy for recycling plastic waste. Upon light irradiation, photothermal agents provide intense thermal gradients localized to their surfaces, wherein the heat exceeds the degradation temperature (Td) of polymers, inducing efficient depolymerization and/or degradation. Thermoplastics (including polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), polystyrene (PS), and polycarbonate (PC)) and thermosets (epoxy resin) are subject to efficient degradation under mild conditions. This review summarizes some key results and advancements in polymer waste mitigation using photothermal conversion depolymerization and upcycling.

KW - Plastic degradation

KW - chemical recycling

KW - light-to-heat

KW - photochemistry

KW - photothermal conversion

KW - plastic upcycling

KW - sustainability

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JO - ACS Applied Polymer Materials

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Emerging Plastic Recycling Strategies Based on Photothermal Conversion

Abstract

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

Keywords

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