A review on photochemical effects of common plastics and their related applications

Abstract

The photochemical effects of plastics refer to a series of photochemical reactions of plastics under certain illumination conditions. In order to help researchers understand the research progress of photochemical effects of plastics, we will introduce photochemical effects of seven common plastics and discuss the influence of functional groups of polymers in plastics on the photochemical effects of plastics in this review. Based on this, we discuss the impact of photochemical effects on the properties of plastics and some factors affecting the surface photochemical effects of plastics. Last but not least, although in most cases the photochemical effects of plastics are extremely detrimental to the control of plastic pollution, some applications based on the photochemical effects of plastics will also be introduced in this review. It is believed that this review can provide some new ideas for the development of new and clean processes and some promising materials such as light‐responsive materials.

A density functional study of the photocatalytic degradation of polycaprolactone by the decatungstate anion in acetonitrile solution

“…15 The β-cleavage of alkoxy radicals is one of the reaction mechanisms considered in the context of photochemical polymer degradation. 56–58 Fig. S5 (ESI†) shows the Gibbs free energies of the β-cleavage of PCL–O˙ radicals.…”

“…15 The b-cleavage of alkoxy radicals is one of the reaction mechanisms considered in the context of photochemical polymer degradation. [56][57][58] PCL-OO can abstract the hydrogen from H-W10 and regenerate the ground-state W10. Thus, molecular oxygen plays an essential role in maintaining the photocatalytic activity of W10.…”