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Integrated Photochromic-Photothermal Processes for Catalytic Plastic Upcycling |
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| Authors: | Dr Yu Liu Dr Congyang Zhang Dr Ji Feng Xuchun Wang Prof Dr Zhifeng Ding Prof Dr Le He Prof Dr Qiao Zhang Prof Dr Jinxing Chen Prof Dr Yadong Yin |
| Institution: | 1. Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon-Based Functional Materials & Devices, Joint International Research Laboratory of Carbon-Based Functional Materials and Devices, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123 P. R. China
These authors contributed equally to this work.;2. Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon-Based Functional Materials & Devices, Joint International Research Laboratory of Carbon-Based Functional Materials and Devices, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123 P. R. China Department of Chemistry, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, N6A 5B7 Canada These authors contributed equally to this work.;3. Department of Chemistry, University of California, Riverside, CA, 92521 USA;4. Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon-Based Functional Materials & Devices, Joint International Research Laboratory of Carbon-Based Functional Materials and Devices, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123 P. R. China Department of Chemistry, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, N6A 5B7 Canada;5. Department of Chemistry, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, N6A 5B7 Canada;6. Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon-Based Functional Materials & Devices, Joint International Research Laboratory of Carbon-Based Functional Materials and Devices, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123 P. R. China |
| Abstract: | Incorporating high-energy ultraviolet (UV) photons into photothermal catalytic processes may enable photothermal-photochemical synergistic catalysis, which represents a transformative technology for waste plastic recycling. The major challenge is avoiding side reactions and by-products caused by these energetic photons. Here, we break through the limitation of the existing photothermal conversion mechanism and propose a photochromic-photothermal catalytic system based on polyol-ligated TiO2 nanocrystals. Upon UV or sunlight irradiation, the chemically bonded polyols can rapidly capture holes generated by TiO2, enabling photogenerated electrons to reduce Ti4+ to Ti3+ and produce oxygen vacancies. The resulting abundant defect energy levels boost sunlight-to-heat conversion efficiency, and simultaneously the oxygen vacancies facilitate polyester glycolysis by activating the nucleophilic addition-elimination process. As a result, compared to commercial TiO2 (P25), we achieve 6-fold and 12.2-fold performance enhancements under thermal and photothermal conditions, respectively, while maintaining high selectivity to high-valued monomers. This paradigm-shift strategy directs energetic UV photons for activating catalysts and avoids their interaction with reactants, opening the possibility of substantially elevating the efficiency of more solar-driven catalysis. |
| Keywords: | Photochromic Process Photothermal Catalysis Plastic Recycling Polyester TiO2 Nanocrystals |