Chemical Upcycling of PET Waste towards Terephthalate Redox Nanoparticles for Energy Storage

Over 30 million ton of poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) is produced each year and no more than 60% all PET bottles are reclaimed for recycling due to material property deteriorations during the mechanical process. Herein, a sustainable approach proposed produce redox-active nanoparticles via chemical upcycling waste application in energy storage. Redox-active sizes lower 100 nm were prepared by emulsion polymerization methacrylic-terephthalate monomer obtained simple methacrylate functionalization depolymerization product (i.e., bis-hydroxy(2-ethyl) terephthalate, BHET). The initial cyclic voltammetry results used as model compound show reversible redox process, when using 0.1 M tetrabutylammonium hexafluorophosphate/dimethyl sulfoxide electrolyte system, with standard potential −2.12 V vs. Fc/Fc+. Finally, cycling performance terephthalate was investigated TBAPF6 solution acetonitrile three-electrode cell. anode electrode displays good stability at high C-rate ≥5C), delivering stable specific discharge capacity 32.8 mAh.g−1 C, retention 94% after cycles. However, large hysteresis between charge capacities fading observed ≤2C), suggesting some irreversibility reactions associated moiety, particular related oxidation