Conversion of Plastic Waste to Carbon-Based Compounds and Application in Energy Storage Devices

Abstract

At present, plastic waste accumulation has been observed as one of the most alarming environmental challenges, affecting all forms of life, economy, and natural ecosystems, worldwide. The overproduction of plastic materials is mainly due to human population explosion as well as extraordinary proliferation in the global economy accompanied by global productivity. Under this threat, the development of benign and green alternative solutions instead of traditional disposal methods such as conversion of plastic waste materials into cherished carbonaceous nanomaterials such as carbon nanotubes (CNTs), carbon quantum dots (CQDs), graphene, activated carbon, and porous carbon is of utmost importance. This critical review thoroughly summarizes the different types of daily used plastics, their types, properties, ways of accumulation and their effect on the environment and human health, treatment of waste materials, conversion of waste materials into carbon-based compounds through different synthetic schemes, and their utilization in energy storage devices particularly in supercapacitors, as well as future perspectives. The main purpose of this review is to help the targeted audience to design their futuristic study in this desired field by providing information about the work done in the past few years.

Upcycling of Polybenzoxazine to Magnetic Metal Nanoparticle-Doped Laser-Induced Graphene for Electromagnetic Interference Shielding

“…6,7 Various waste polymers derived graphene materials, including graphene nanosheets, porous graphene, heteroatom-doped graphene, and other graphene-based nanostructures, have been produced. 7,8 As reported, they can find applications in different fields of energy conversion and storage devices, 9 adsorption, 10 solar cells, 11 catalysts, 8 and thermoelectric applications. 12 However, multiple steps, 10 high temperature, 13 long time periods, 14 and/or ultrahigh purity atmosphere 11 are usually required in the recycling process.…”

“…Up to now, many studies have focused on converting waste plastics/resins into graphene. Moreover, the most frequently reported method is pyrolysis, which mainly consists of two processes: pyrolysis of polymers into small hydrocarbons and the carbonization of degraded products. , Various waste polymers derived graphene materials, including graphene nanosheets, porous graphene, heteroatom-doped graphene, and other graphene-based nanostructures, have been produced. , As reported, they can find applications in different fields of energy conversion and storage devices, adsorption, solar cells, catalysts, and thermoelectric applications . However, multiple steps, high temperature, long time periods, and/or ultrahigh purity atmosphere are usually required in the recycling process.…”

From plastic waste to new materials for energy storage

“…The most widely investigated approach to upcycle plastic waste for energy storage applications is through combustion to produce carbonaceous materials. [14][15][16][17][18] Carbon materials with large specific surface area and high electric conductivity are commonly used in electrochemical energy storage. Indeed, the current LIB technology already uses a carbonaceous material as anode electrode, namely graphite, which is generally produced either through mining or synthetically via the carbonisation of unsaturated petroleum derivatives.…”

A medical waste X-ray film based triboelectric nanogenerator for self-powered devices, sensors, and smart buildings

“…There are various alternative ways of utilizing plastic waste that can help reduce pollution and its impact on the environment. One approach is to recycle plastic waste and use it to manufacture new products [7,8][9,10], new functional materials [11] [12][13][14].…”