Issue 10, 2018

Plastic waste as a feedstock for solar-driven H2 generation

Abstract

Solar-driven reforming of plastics offers a simple and low-energy means to turn waste into H2. Here, we report the efficient photoreforming of three commonly produced polymers – polylactic acid, polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and polyurethane – using inexpensive CdS/CdOx quantum dots in alkaline aqueous solution. This process operates under ambient temperature and pressure, generates pure H2 and converts the waste polymer into organic products such as formate, acetate and pyruvate. We further validate the real-world applicability of the system by converting a PET water bottle into H2. This is the first demonstration of visible light-driven, noble metal-free photoreforming of plastic.

Graphical abstract: Plastic waste as a feedstock for solar-driven H2 generation

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Communication
Submitted
14 May 2018
Accepted
06 Aug 2018
First published
23 Aug 2018

Energy Environ. Sci., 2018,11, 2853-2857

Plastic waste as a feedstock for solar-driven H2 generation

T. Uekert, M. F. Kuehnel, D. W. Wakerley and E. Reisner, Energy Environ. Sci., 2018, 11, 2853 DOI: 10.1039/C8EE01408F

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