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Kang H, He D, Turchiano C, Yan X, Chai J, Weed M, Elliott GI, Onofrei D, Pan X, Xiao X, Gu J. Mining the Carbon Intermediates in Plastic Waste Upcycling for Constructing C-S Bond. J Am Chem Soc 2024; 146:18639-18649. [PMID: 38916586 PMCID: PMC11240564 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.4c05512] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/26/2024]
Abstract
Postconsumer plastics are generally perceived as valueless with only a small portion of plastic waste being closed-loop recycled into similar products while most of them are discarded in landfills. Depositing plastic waste in landfills not only harms the environment but also signifies a substantial economic loss. Alternatively, constructing value-added chemical feedstocks via mining the waste-derived intermediate species as a carbon (C) source under mild electrochemical conditions is a sustainable strategy to realize the circular economy. This proof-of-concept work provides an attractive "turning trash to treasure" strategy by integrating electrocatalytic polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic upcycling with a chemical C-S coupling reaction to synthesize organosulfur compounds, hydroxymethanesulfonate (HMS). HMS can be produced efficiently (Faradaic efficiency, FE of ∼70%) via deliberately capturing electrophilic intermediates generated in the PET monomer (ethylene glycol, EG) upcycling process, followed by coupling them with nucleophilic sulfur (S) species (i.e., SO32- and HSO3-). Unlike many previous studies conducted under alkaline conditions, PET upcycling was performed over an amorphous MnO2 catalyst under near-neutral conditions, allowing for the stabilization of electrophilic intermediates. The compatibility of this strategy was further investigated by employing biomass-derived compounds as substrates. Moreover, comparable HMS yields can be achieved with real-world PET plastics, showing its enormous potential in practical application. Lastly, Density function theory (DFT) calculation reveals that the C-C cleavage step of EG is the rate-determining step (RDS), and amorphous MnO2 significantly decreases the energy barriers for both RDS and C-S coupling when compared to the crystalline counterpart.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongxing Kang
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, San Diego State University, 5500 Campanile Drive, San Diego, California 92182, United States
| | - Dong He
- Department of Physics, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei 430072, China
| | - Christopher Turchiano
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, San Diego State University, 5500 Campanile Drive, San Diego, California 92182, United States
| | - Xingxu Yan
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of California, Irvine, California 92697, United States
| | - Jingtong Chai
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, San Diego State University, 5500 Campanile Drive, San Diego, California 92182, United States
| | - Melanie Weed
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, San Diego State University, 5500 Campanile Drive, San Diego, California 92182, United States
| | - Gregory I Elliott
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, San Diego State University, 5500 Campanile Drive, San Diego, California 92182, United States
| | - David Onofrei
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, San Diego State University, 5500 Campanile Drive, San Diego, California 92182, United States
| | - Xiaoqing Pan
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of California, Irvine, California 92697, United States
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of California, Irvine Irvine, California 92697, United States
| | - Xiangheng Xiao
- Department of Physics, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei 430072, China
| | - Jing Gu
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, San Diego State University, 5500 Campanile Drive, San Diego, California 92182, United States
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Sun L, Lv H, Xiao J, Liu B. Enzymatic Mesoporous Metal Nanocavities for Concurrent Electrocatalysis of Nitrate to Ammonia Coupled with Polyethylene Terephthalate Upcycling. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2024; 36:e2402767. [PMID: 38593229 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202402767] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2024] [Indexed: 04/11/2024]
Abstract
Electrochemical upcycling of waste pollutants into high value-added fuels and/or chemicals is recognized as a green and sustainable solution that can address the resource utilization on earth. Despite great efforts, their progress has seriously been hindered by the lack of high-performance electrocatalysts. In this work, bimetallic PdCu mesoporous nanocavities (MCs) are reported as a new bifunctional enzymatic electrocatalyst that realizes concurrent electrocatalytic upcycling of nitrate wastewater and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic waste. Abundant metal mesopores and open nanocavities of PdCu MCs provide the enzymatic confinement of key intermediates for the deeper electroreduction of nitrate and accelerate the transport of reactants/products within/out of electrocatalyst, thus affording high ammonia Faradic efficiency (FENH3) of 96.6% and yield rate of 5.6 mg h-1 mg-1 at the cathode. Meanwhile, PdCu MC nanozymes trigger the selective electrooxidation of PET-derived ethylene glycol (EG) into glycolic acid (GA) and formic acid with high FEs of >90% by a facile regulation of potentials at the anode. Moreover, concurrent electrosynthesis of value-added NH3 and GA is disclosed in the two-electrode coupling system, further confirming the high efficiency of bifunctional PdCu MC nanozymes in producing value-added fuels and chemicals from waste pollutants in a sustainable manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lizhi Sun
- Key Laboratory of Green Chemistry and Technology of Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610064, China
| | - Hao Lv
- Key Laboratory of Green Chemistry and Technology of Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610064, China
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China
| | - Jie Xiao
- Key Laboratory of Green Chemistry and Technology of Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610064, China
| | - Ben Liu
- Key Laboratory of Green Chemistry and Technology of Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610064, China
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3
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Han X, Jiang M, Li H, Li R, Sulaiman NHM, Zhang T, Li H, Zheng L, Wei J, He L, Zhou X. Upcycle polyethylene terephthalate waste by photoreforming: Bifunction of Pt cocatalyst. J Colloid Interface Sci 2024; 665:204-218. [PMID: 38522160 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2024.03.094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2023] [Revised: 02/28/2024] [Accepted: 03/12/2024] [Indexed: 03/26/2024]
Abstract
Upcycle polyethylene terephthalate (PET) waste by photoreforming (PR) is a sustainable and green approach to tackle environmental problems but with challenges to obtain valuable oxidation products and high purity hydrogen simultaneously. Noble metal cocatalysts are essential to enhance the overall PR reaction efficacy. In this work, TiO2 nanotubes (TiO2 NTs) decorated with single Pt atoms (Pt1/TiO2) or Pt nanoparticles (PtNPs/TiO2) are used in the photoreforming reaction (in one batch), and the oxidation products from ethylene glycol (EG, hydrolysed product of PET) in liquid phase and hydrogen are detected. With Pt1/TiO2, EG is oxidized to glyoxal, glyoxylate or lactate, and hydrogen evolution rate (r H2) reaches 51.8 μmol⋅h-1⋅gcat-1, that is 30 times higher than that of TiO2. For PtNPs/TiO2 (size of Pt NPs: 1.97 nm), hydrogen evolution reaches 219.1 μmol⋅h-1⋅gcat-1, but with the oxidation product of acetate only. DFT calculation demonstrates that for Pt NPs, the reaction path for hydrogen evolution is preferred thermodynamically, due to the formation of Schottky junction. On the oxidation of EG, theoretical and spectroscopic analysis suggest that bidentate adsorption of EG at the interface is facile on Pt1/TiO2, compared to that on PtNPs/TiO2 (two Pt sites), but oxidation products, adsorb less strongly, compared to PtNPs/TiO2, that eventually regulates the distribution of oxidation products. The results thus demonstrate the bifunctions of Pt in the PR reaction, i.e., electron transfer mediator for hydrogen evolution and reactive sites for molecules adsorption. The oxidation reaction is dominated by the adsorption-desorption behavior of molecules but the reduction reaction is controlled by the electron transfer. In addition, acidification of pretreated PET alkaline solution achieves separation of pure terephthalic acid (PTA), which further improves the reaction efficiency possibly by offering high density of active sites and acidic environment. Our work thus demonstrates that to upcycle PET plastics, an optimized process can be reached by atomic design of photocatalysts and proper treatment on the plastic wastes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaochi Han
- School of Chemical Engineering, Sichuan University, No. 24 South Section 1, Yihuan Road, Chengdu 610065, PR China
| | - Ming Jiang
- School of Chemical Engineering, Sichuan University, No. 24 South Section 1, Yihuan Road, Chengdu 610065, PR China
| | - Huaxing Li
- CAS Key Laboratory of Standardization and Measurement for Nanotechnology, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology, Beijing 100190, PR China
| | - Rongjie Li
- CAS Key Laboratory of Standardization and Measurement for Nanotechnology, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology, Beijing 100190, PR China
| | - Nashwan H M Sulaiman
- School of Chemical Engineering, Sichuan University, No. 24 South Section 1, Yihuan Road, Chengdu 610065, PR China
| | - Tao Zhang
- School of Chemical Engineering, Sichuan University, No. 24 South Section 1, Yihuan Road, Chengdu 610065, PR China
| | - Hongjiao Li
- School of Chemical Engineering, Sichuan University, No. 24 South Section 1, Yihuan Road, Chengdu 610065, PR China
| | - Lirong Zheng
- Beijing Synchrotron Radiation Facility, Institute of High Energy Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, PR China.
| | - Jiake Wei
- State Key Laboratory of Catalysis, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian 116023, PR China
| | - Lirong He
- State Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials Engineering, Polymer Research Institute, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, PR China
| | - Xuemei Zhou
- School of Chemical Engineering, Sichuan University, No. 24 South Section 1, Yihuan Road, Chengdu 610065, PR China.
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4
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Li J, Ma HP, Zhao G, Huang G, Sun W, Peng C. Plastic Waste Conversion by Leveraging Renewable Photo/Electro-Catalytic Technologies. CHEMSUSCHEM 2024; 17:e202301352. [PMID: 38226954 DOI: 10.1002/cssc.202301352] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2023] [Revised: 12/26/2023] [Accepted: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 01/17/2024]
Abstract
Plastics have revolutionized our lives; however, the exponential growth of their usage has led to a global crisis. More sustainable strategies are needed to address this dilemma and transform the plastics economy from a linearity to a circular model. Herein, we systematically summarize the recent progress in renewable energy-driven plastic conversion strategies, including photocatalysis, electrocatalysis, and their integration. By introducing the significant works, the design principles, mechanisms, and system regulations, we decipher and compare the various aspects of plastic conversion. These approaches show high reactivity and selectivity under environmentally benign conditions and provide alternative reaction pathways for plastic conversion. Plastic upcycling as a chemical feedstock can yield value-added chemicals and fuels, contributing to the establishment of a sustainable and circular economy. Additionally, several innovations in reaction engineering and system designs are presented. Finally, the challenges and perspectives of sustainable energy-driven plastic conversion technologies are comprehensively discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianan Li
- School of Chemical Engineering, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, 116024, P. R. China
- Zhejiang Tiandi Environmental Protection Technology Co., Ltd., Hangzhou, 311121, P. R. China
| | - Hong-Peng Ma
- Key Laboratory of Special Functional and Smart Polymer Materials of Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Shaan Xi, 710072, P. R. China
| | - Guoping Zhao
- Zhejiang Tiandi Environmental Protection Technology Co., Ltd., Hangzhou, 311121, P. R. China
| | - Guangfa Huang
- Zhejiang Tiandi Environmental Protection Technology Co., Ltd., Hangzhou, 311121, P. R. China
| | - Wenbo Sun
- School of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Shandong University of Technology, Zibo, 255000, P. R. China
| | - Chong Peng
- School of Chemical Engineering, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, 116024, P. R. China
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5
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Chen J, Zhang F, Kuang M, Wang L, Wang H, Li W, Yang J. Unveiling synergy of strain and ligand effects in metallic aerogel for electrocatalytic polyethylene terephthalate upcycling. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2318853121. [PMID: 38630722 PMCID: PMC11047115 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2318853121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2023] [Accepted: 03/06/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Recently, there has been a notable surge in interest regarding reclaiming valuable chemicals from waste plastics. However, the energy-intensive conventional thermal catalysis does not align with the concept of sustainable development. Herein, we report a sustainable electrocatalytic approach allowing the selective synthesis of glycolic acid (GA) from waste polyethylene terephthalate (PET) over a Pd67Ag33 alloy catalyst under ambient conditions. Notably, Pd67Ag33 delivers a high mass activity of 9.7 A mgPd-1 for ethylene glycol oxidation reaction (EGOR) and GA Faradaic efficiency of 92.7 %, representing the most active catalyst for selective GA synthesis. In situ experiments and computational simulations uncover that ligand effect induced by Ag incorporation enhances the GA selectivity by facilitating carbonyl intermediates desorption, while the lattice mismatch-triggered tensile strain optimizes the adsorption of *OH species to boost reaction kinetics. This work unveils the synergistic of strain and ligand effect in alloy catalyst and provides guidance for the design of future catalysts for PET upcycling. We further investigate the versatility of Pd67Ag33 catalyst on CO2 reduction reaction (CO2RR) and assemble EGOR//CO2RR integrated electrolyzer, presenting a pioneering demonstration for reforming waste carbon resource (i.e., PET and CO2) into high-value chemicals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junliang Chen
- State Key Laboratory for Modification of Chemical Fibers and Polymer Materials, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Donghua University, Shanghai201620, China
| | - Fangzhou Zhang
- State Key Laboratory for Modification of Chemical Fibers and Polymer Materials, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Donghua University, Shanghai201620, China
| | - Min Kuang
- State Key Laboratory for Modification of Chemical Fibers and Polymer Materials, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Donghua University, Shanghai201620, China
| | - Li Wang
- State Key Laboratory for Modification of Chemical Fibers and Polymer Materials, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Donghua University, Shanghai201620, China
| | - Huaping Wang
- State Key Laboratory for Modification of Chemical Fibers and Polymer Materials, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Donghua University, Shanghai201620, China
| | - Wei Li
- Department of Chemistry, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Catalysis and Innovative Materials and State Key Laboratory of Molecular Engineering of Polymers, Fudan University, Shanghai200433, China
| | - Jianping Yang
- State Key Laboratory for Modification of Chemical Fibers and Polymer Materials, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Donghua University, Shanghai201620, China
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6
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Lou X, Liu F, Li Q, Chu M, Wang G, Chen J, Cao M. Advances in solar-driven, electro/photoelectrochemical, and microwave-assisted upcycling of waste polyesters. Chem Commun (Camb) 2024; 60:2828-2838. [PMID: 38362916 DOI: 10.1039/d3cc05930h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/17/2024]
Abstract
Plastic waste in the environment causes significant environmental pollution. The potential of using chemical methods for upcycling plastic waste offers a dual solution to ensure resource sustainability and environmental restoration. This article provides a comprehensive overview of the latest technologies driven by solar-driven, electro/photoelectrochemical-catalytic, and microwave-assisted methods for the conversion of plastics into various valuable chemicals. It emphasizes selective conversion during the plastic transformation process, elucidates reaction pathways, and optimizes product selectivity. Finally, the article offers insights into the future developments of chemical upcycling of polyesters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiangxi Lou
- Key Laboratory of Superlight Materials and Surface Technology of Ministry of Education, College of Materials Science and Chemical Engineering, Harbin Engineering University, Harbin 150001, China.
- Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon-Based Functional Materials & Devices, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, Jiangsu, China.
| | - Fangyue Liu
- Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon-Based Functional Materials & Devices, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, Jiangsu, China.
| | - Qingye Li
- Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon-Based Functional Materials & Devices, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, Jiangsu, China.
| | - Mingyu Chu
- Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon-Based Functional Materials & Devices, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, Jiangsu, China.
| | - Guiling Wang
- Key Laboratory of Superlight Materials and Surface Technology of Ministry of Education, College of Materials Science and Chemical Engineering, Harbin Engineering University, Harbin 150001, China.
| | - Jinxing Chen
- Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon-Based Functional Materials & Devices, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, Jiangsu, China.
| | - Muhan Cao
- Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon-Based Functional Materials & Devices, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, Jiangsu, China.
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7
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Jiang M, Wang X, Xi W, Yang P, Zhou H, Duan J, Ratova M, Wu D. Chemical catalytic upgrading of polyethylene terephthalate plastic waste into value-added materials, fuels and chemicals. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 912:169342. [PMID: 38123093 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.169342] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2023] [Revised: 11/18/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
The substantial production of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) products, coupled with high abandonment rates, results in significant environmental pollution and resource wastage. This has prompted global attention to the development of rational strategies for PET waste treatment. In the context of renewability and sustainability, catalytic chemical technology provides an effective means to recycle and upcycle PET waste into valuable resources. In this review, we initially provide an overview of strategies employed in the thermocatalytic process to recycle PET waste into valuable carbon materials, fuels and typical refined chemicals. The effect of catalysts on the quality and quantity of specific products is highlighted. Next, we introduce the development of renewable-energy-driven electrocatalytic and photocatalytic systems for sustainable PET waste upcycling, focusing on rational catalysts, innovative catalytic system design, and corresponding underlying catalytic mechanisms. Moreover, we discuss advantages and disadvantages of three chemical catalytic strategies. Finally, existing limitations and outlook toward controllable selectivity and yield enhancement of value-added products and PET upvaluing technology for scale-up applications are proposed. This review aims to inspire the exploration of waste-to-treasure technologies for renewable-energy-driven waste management toward a circular economy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingkun Jiang
- Key Laboratory of Green Chemical Engineering Process of Ministry of Education, Hubei Key Laboratory of Plasma Chemistry and New Materials, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Wuhan Institute of Technology, Wuhan 430205, Hubei, PR China
| | - Xiali Wang
- Key Laboratory of Green Chemical Engineering Process of Ministry of Education, Hubei Key Laboratory of Plasma Chemistry and New Materials, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Wuhan Institute of Technology, Wuhan 430205, Hubei, PR China
| | - Wanlong Xi
- Key Laboratory of Green Chemical Engineering Process of Ministry of Education, Hubei Key Laboratory of Plasma Chemistry and New Materials, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Wuhan Institute of Technology, Wuhan 430205, Hubei, PR China
| | - Peng Yang
- Key Laboratory of Green Chemical Engineering Process of Ministry of Education, Hubei Key Laboratory of Plasma Chemistry and New Materials, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Wuhan Institute of Technology, Wuhan 430205, Hubei, PR China
| | - Hexin Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Green Chemical Engineering Process of Ministry of Education, Hubei Key Laboratory of Plasma Chemistry and New Materials, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Wuhan Institute of Technology, Wuhan 430205, Hubei, PR China
| | - Junyuan Duan
- Key Laboratory of Green Chemical Engineering Process of Ministry of Education, Hubei Key Laboratory of Plasma Chemistry and New Materials, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Wuhan Institute of Technology, Wuhan 430205, Hubei, PR China
| | - Marina Ratova
- Faculty of Science and Engineering, Manchester Metropolitan University, Chester Street, Manchester M1 5GD, UK
| | - Dan Wu
- Key Laboratory of Green Chemical Engineering Process of Ministry of Education, Hubei Key Laboratory of Plasma Chemistry and New Materials, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Wuhan Institute of Technology, Wuhan 430205, Hubei, PR China.
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8
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Zhang Y, Ma Y, Yuan W, Cai L, Chai Y, Qiu B. Symmetry or asymmetry: which one is the platform of nitrogen vacancies for alkaline hydrogen evolution. MATERIALS HORIZONS 2023; 10:4480-4487. [PMID: 37529829 DOI: 10.1039/d3mh00814b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/03/2023]
Abstract
Conventional nitrogen vacancies with a symmetric coordination of metal cations (i.e., M1-Nv-M1) play a crucial role in tuning the local environment of the metal sites in metal nitrides and improving their electrochemical activity in the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). However, the symmetric Nv sites, which feature a uniform charge distribution on adjacent metal sites, suffer from sluggish water dissociation kinetics and a poor capability for hydrogen desorption. Here, we fabricated Cr-doped and Nv-rich Co4N nanorods grown on a Ni foam (Cr-Co4N-Nv/NF) with asymmetric Cr-Nv-Co sites to effectively catalyze hydrogen evolution under alkaline conditions, with a low overpotential of 33 mV at a current density of 10 mA cm-2 and a small Tafel slope of 37 mV dec-1. The experimental characterizations and theoretical simulations collectively reveal that the construction of asymmetric Cr-Nv-Co sites gives rise to the upshift of the d-band center, thus promoting water adsorption and activation. Moreover, asymmetric Nv sites allow a balance between hydrogen adsorption and desorption, which avoids the limited desorption process over the symmetric Co-Nv-Co sites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Zhang
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, 83 Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon, Hong Kong 999077, China
| | - Yingxin Ma
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Pesticide Sciences, Department of Chemistry, College of Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China.
| | - Wenfang Yuan
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Pesticide Sciences, Department of Chemistry, College of Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China.
| | - Lejuan Cai
- Songshan Lake Materials Laboratory, Guangdong 523000, China.
| | - Yang Chai
- Department of Applied Physics, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong, 999077, China
| | - Bocheng Qiu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Pesticide Sciences, Department of Chemistry, College of Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China.
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9
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Chen Z, Zheng R, Bao T, Ma T, Wei W, Shen Y, Ni BJ. Dual-Doped Nickel Sulfide for Electro-Upgrading Polyethylene Terephthalate into Valuable Chemicals and Hydrogen Fuel. NANO-MICRO LETTERS 2023; 15:210. [PMID: 37695408 PMCID: PMC10495299 DOI: 10.1007/s40820-023-01181-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2023] [Accepted: 08/10/2023] [Indexed: 09/12/2023]
Abstract
Electro-upcycling of plastic waste into value-added chemicals/fuels is an attractive and sustainable way for plastic waste management. Recently, electrocatalytically converting polyethylene terephthalate (PET) into formate and hydrogen has aroused great interest, while developing low-cost catalysts with high efficiency and selectivity for the central ethylene glycol (PET monomer) oxidation reaction (EGOR) remains a challenge. Herein, a high-performance nickel sulfide catalyst for plastic waste electro-upcycling is designed by a cobalt and chloride co-doping strategy. Benefiting from the interconnected ultrathin nanosheet architecture, dual dopants induced up-shifting d band centre and facilitated in situ structural reconstruction, the Co and Cl co-doped Ni3S2 (Co, Cl-NiS) outperforms the single-doped and undoped analogues for EGOR. The self-evolved sulfide@oxyhydroxide heterostructure catalyzes EG-to-formate conversion with high Faradic efficiency (> 92%) and selectivity (> 91%) at high current densities (> 400 mA cm-2). Besides producing formate, the bifunctional Co, Cl-NiS-assisted PET hydrolysate electrolyzer can achieve a high hydrogen production rate of 50.26 mmol h-1 in 2 M KOH, at 1.7 V. This study not only demonstrates a dual-doping strategy to engineer cost-effective bifunctional catalysts for electrochemical conversion processes, but also provides a green and sustainable way for plastic waste upcycling and simultaneous energy-saving hydrogen production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhijie Chen
- Centre for Technology in Water and Wastewater, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2007, Australia
| | - Renji Zheng
- School of Minerals Processing and Bioengineering, Central South University, Changsha, 410083, People's Republic of China.
| | - Teng Bao
- School of Biology, Food and Environment Engineering, Hefei University, Hefei, 230601, People's Republic of China
| | - Tianyi Ma
- School of Science, STEM College, RMIT University, Melbourne, VIC, 3000, Australia
| | - Wei Wei
- Centre for Technology in Water and Wastewater, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2007, Australia
| | - Yansong Shen
- School of Chemical Engineering, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia
| | - Bing-Jie Ni
- Centre for Technology in Water and Wastewater, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2007, Australia.
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