Advanced Materials· 2026Q1
Dual Single Atoms Boosting Photocatalytic Upcycling of Raw Polyvinylidene Fluoride Plastic
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- Q1SCImago
- 2026year
Short summary
A novel photocatalyst, Fe and Cu dual single atoms on In2P3S9 nanosheets (In2P3S9 NSs/Fe-Cu DSAs), directly converts recalcitrant raw polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) plastic waste into high-value chemicals, with the best-performing catalyst achieving ~1351.8 µmol g⁻¹ of acetic/formic acid.
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Key points
- A novel In2P3S9 NSs/Fe-Cu DSAs photocatalyst was synthesized for direct PVDF plastic upcycling.
- The best-performing catalyst achieved ~1351.8 µmol g⁻¹ of acetic/formic acid from raw PVDF.
- In situ characterizations revealed superior electron extraction and transfer mechanisms.
- Photoexcited electrons and hydroxyl radicals were identified as key species in the PVDF upcycling process.
AI-generated from the title and abstract; the full text is not read.
Abstract
ABSTRACT Polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) is a highly recalcitrant fluorinated polymer that is highly resistant to chemical degradation, making its sustainable recycling and upcycling challenging. Despite its widespread use as a binder in the lithium‐ion battery industry, effective strategies for converting PVDF waste into value‐added chemicals remain limited. To resolve this, Fe and Cu dual single atoms incorporated on a new two‐dimensional material nanosheets (In 2 P 3 S 9 NSs/Fe‐Cu DSAs) were prepared as photocatalysts for direct raw PVDF plastic conversion to high‐value chemicals. The best‐performing photocatalyst (Fe 1.0 Cu 0.5 ) achieves a total acetic/formic acid generation of ∼1351.8 µmol g −1 . Various in situ characterizations such as atomic force microscopy‐kelvin probe force microscopy, x‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) demonstrate superior electron extraction from In 2 P 3 S 9 NSs to Fe and Cu DSAs, after which the electrons are subsequently scavenged by O 2 under ambient conditions. Moreover, quenching experiments as well as in situ infrared spectroscopy, and in situ EPR reveal the vital impact of photoexcited electrons and hydroxyl radicals in PVDF upcycling into high‐value products. These findings highlight the significant potential of photocatalysis in transforming one of the most resistant plastic wastes (PVDF) into value‐added products, providing a sustainable remedy for plastic pollution crisis.
The authors' abstract, as published at the source. Advanced Materials, 2026 · DOI ↗
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Field: Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment
Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the EnvironmentEnergy