Cu Promoted the Dynamic Evolution of Ni-Based Catalysts for Polyethylene Terephthalate Plastic Upcycling

Upcycling plastic wastes into value-added chemicals is a promising approach to put end-of-life plastic wastes back into their ecocycle. As one of the polyesters that is used daily, polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic waste is employed here as the model substrate. Herein, a nickel (Ni)-based catalyst was prepared via electrochemically depositing copper (Cu) species on Ni foam (NiCu/NF). The NiCu/NF formed Cu/CuO and Ni/NiO/Ni(OH)2 core–shell structures before electrolysis and reconstructed into NiOOH and CuOOH/Cu(OH)2 active species during the ethylene glycol (EG) oxidation. After oxidation, the Cu and Ni species evolved into more reduced species. An indirect mechanism was identified as the main EG…

• NS
  National Science Foundation

  Awards: CSDM-B-2321203, CHE-1338173, 2154837, 2321203, 1338173
• UI
  UC Irvine Materials Research Institute
• UO
  University of California, Irvine
• DO
  Division of Materials Research

  Award: CHE-1338173
• DO
  Division of Chemistry

  Awards: CHE-2154837, CHE-1338173, 1338173