Upcycling of plastic waste into carbon nanotubes as efficient battery additives

• Published in: Green chemistry : an international journal and green chemistry resource : GC 2023-10, Vol.25 (2), p.87-818
• Main Authors: Nam, Eonu, Park, Gyori, Nam, Ji Young, Park, Sooryun, Jo, Yoonjeong, Kim, Jihun, Park, Byung Gwan, Baek, Kyungeun, Kang, Seok Ju, Ra, Ho Won, Park, Youngsoo, Seo, Myung Won, Lee, Kyung Jin, An, Kwangjin
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Additives; Black carbon; Carbon; Carbon black; Carbon nanotubes; Catalysts; Cathodes; Chemical vapor deposition; Electrochemistry; Gas separation; Green chemistry; Magnesium oxide; Nanotechnology; Nanotubes; Plastic debris; Polyvinylidene fluorides; Pyrolysis; Raw materials; Vinylidene fluoride
• ISSN: 1463-9262; 1463-9270
• DOI: 10.1039/d3gc02100a

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were produced from waste face masks and non-recyclable mixed plastic waste via pyrolysis-chemical vapor deposition (CVD). The yield and properties of the prepared CNTs depended on the feedstock and catalyst used. CoMo/MgO and FeMo/MgO were proven suitable catalysts for producing few-walled and multi-walled CNTs, respectively, regardless of the feedstock. Both mask waste and the FeMo/MgO catalyst led to excellent carbon yield (516.7 wt%) and CNT purity (97.9 wt%). The resulting CNTs were mixed with LiNi 0.8 Co 0.1 Mn 0.1 O 2 (NCM811) active material and poly(vinylidene fluoride) binder to fabricate cathodes. Electrochemical measurements showed that CNTs grown on the FeMo/MgO catalyst outperformed commercial carbon black and CNTs. C 1 -C 3 hydrocarbons and H 2 present in the plastic pyrolysis gas can be directly used for CNT production without gas separation or purification, therefore, the proposed pyrolysis-CVD process is favorable for efficient plastic upcycling and advanced battery applications. Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were produced from waste face mask and non-recyclable mixed plastic waste via pyrolysis-chemical vapor deposition (CVD).