DOE OSTI · 2571610
Upcycling Polyethylene Waste Into Advanced Carbon Materials Used for Energy Storage Applications
Abstract
Upcycling plastic into advanced carbons, such as graphite and graphene, offers attractive options to manage waste streams by converting the plastic into carbon electrode materials for energy storage devices. However, polyethylene (PE) is notoriously difficult to upcycle because it decomposes into light gases at approximately 350-400 °C which prevents processing it at higher temperatures to convert it into advanced carbons. This work addresses this challenge by oxidatively functionalizing PE between 300-330 C which stabilizes it for higher temperature processing into graphite & graphene. In addition, the graphite & graphene are tested as lithium-ion battery or supercapacitor electrodes where their electrochemical performances outperform commercial materials.
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Gao, Yuan [NETL Site Support Contractor, National Energy Technology Laboratory], Pham, Viet Hung [NETL Site Support Contractor, National Energy Technology Laboratory], Huynh, Ngoc [NETL Site Support Contractor, National Energy Technology Laboratory], Kim, Ki-Joong [NETL] (ORCID:0000000193748103), Wang, Congjun [NETL] (ORCID:0000000238312929), Matranga, Christopher [NETL] (ORCID:0000000170825938). 2025-07-13. Upcycling Polyethylene Waste Into Advanced Carbon Materials Used for Energy Storage Applications. https://doi.org/10.2172/2571610
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