Upcycling Plastic Waste into High Value-Added Carbonaceous Materials

Tuning the Mesopore Structure of Polyethylene Glycol Terephthalate (PET)-Derived Hard Carbon for High-Capacity Sodium-Ion Batteries

Hard carbon (HC) is considered to be a highly promising anode material for sodium-ion batteries. However, the synthesis conditions and pore structure regulation are still challenging for high-capacity sodium-ion storage. In this study, HCs using polyethylene glycol terephthalate (PET) as a carbon resource and ZnO as a nanopore template were synthesized and systematically investigated. By optimizing the additive amount of zinc gluconate, the starting material for ZnO, PET-derived HCs with a proper mesoporous structure were obtained. The as-prepared hard carbon demonstrated a high reversible capacity of 389.42 mAh·g-1 at 20 mA·g-1, with the plateau capacity accounting for 68%. After 75 cycles, the discharge capacity stabilized at 367.73 mAh·g-1 with a retention ratio of 89.4%. The rate performance test indicated that a proper mesopore structure helped to improve the sodium-ion diffusion coefficient, effectively enhancing the charge-storage kinetics. This work provides a promising strategy for converting PET into valuable carbon materials for application in the field of renewable energy technology.

Toward Sustainable Polymer Materials for Rechargeable Batteries: Utilizing Natural Feedstocks and Recycling/Upcycling of Polymer Waste

The ever-increasing demand for rechargeable battery systems in the era of electric vehicles has spurred extensive research into developing polymeric components for batteries, such as separators, polymer electrolytes, and binders. However, current battery systems rely on expensive and nonrenewable resources, which potentially have a negative environmental impact. Therefore, polymer materials derived from natural resources have gained significant attention, primarily due to their cost-effective and environmentally sustainable features. Moreover, natural feedstocks often possess highly polar functional groups and high molecular weights, offering desirable electro-chemo-mechanical features when applied as battery materials. More recently, various recycling and upcycling strategies for polymeric battery components have also been proposed given the substantial waste generation from end-of-life batteries. Recycling polymeric materials includes an overall process of recovering the components from spent batteries followed by regeneration into new materials. Polymer upcycling into battery materials involves transforming daily-used plastic waste into high-value-added battery components. This review aims to give a state-of-the-art overview of contemporary methods to develop sustainable polymeric materials and recycling/upcycling strategies for various battery applications.

Low-temperature pulverization-specific Sargassum horneri extract accelerates wound healing and attenuates inflammation in a mouse burn model

Burn injuries, affecting local skin disruption as well as inducing systemic inflammatory responses, are presented as a global public health problem. To enhance the effects of burn wound healing, treatment must simultaneously regulate both re-epithelialization and hyperinflammation. Extracts of Sargassum horneri (S. horneri) have shown a potential to enhance skin wound healing through antioxidative properties, immune enhancement, and modulation of inflammatory responses. However, despite its promising application for burn wound healing, specific investigation into S. horneri-derived compounds for enhancing wound healing has not yet been conducted. In this research, we investigated the burn wound-healing effect of the low-temperature pulverization-specific S. horneri extract (LPSHE), which could not be detected using the room-temperature grinding method. In a mouse burn model with third-degree burn injuries, LPSHE accelerated re-epithelialization by promoting the increase in F-actin formation and reduced burn-induced ROS levels. Additionally, LPSHE significantly regulated hyperinflammation by reducing pro-inflammatory cytokines. Further investigation into molecular mechanisms using HaCaT keratinocytes also demonstrated beneficial effects on burn wound healing. Taken together, our findings suggested that LPSHE is a promising therapeutic candidate for enhancing burn wound healing. Furthermore, this research underscored the importance of low-temperature pulverization in discovering novel natural compounds from marine organisms.

Plasma-Enabled Process with Single-Atom Catalysts for Sustainable Plastic Waste Transformation

The escalating issue of plastic waste generation has prompted the search for an effective solution to address these challenges. In this study, we present a novel plasma-enabled strategy for the rapid breakdown of various types of plastic wastes, including mixtures, into high-value carbon nanomaterials and hydrogen. The H2 yield and selectivity achieved through the implemented catalyst-free plasma-enabled strategy are 14.2 and 5.9 times higher, respectively, compared to those obtained with conventional thermal pyrolysis under similar conditions. It is noteworthy that this catalyst-free plasma alone approach yields a significantly higher energy yield of H2 (gH2/kWh) compared to other pyrolysis processes. By coupling plasma pyrolysis with thermal catalytic process, employing of 1 wt . % M/CeO2 (M=Fe, Co, and Ni) atomically dispersed catalysts can further enhance hydrogen production. Specifically, the 1 wt . % Co/CeO2 catalyst demonstrated excellent catalytic performance throughout the 10 cycles of plastic waste decomposition, achieving the highest H2 yield of 46.7 mmol/gplastic (equivalent to 64.4 % of theoretical H2 production) and nearly 100 % hydrogen atom recovery efficiency at the 7th cycle. Notably, the H2 yield achieved over the atomically dispersed Fe on CeO2 surface (1 wt . % Fe/CeO2) in the integrated plasma-thermal catalytic process is comparable to that obtained with Fe particles on CeO2 surface (10 wt . % Fe/CeO2). This outcome, demonstrated with single-atom catalysts, offers a promising avenue for cost-effective and efficient chemical plastic recycling. Through a combination of experimental and computational efforts, we have provided an in-depth understanding of the catalytic mechanisms of the investigated single atom catalysts in the developed plasma-enabled process. This innovative and straightforward approach provides a promising and expedient strategy for continuously converting diverse plastic waste streams, including mixed and contaminated sources, into high-value products conducive to a circular plastic economy.

A comprehensive review of PETW recycling for supercapacitor applications

The rising measure of waste produced from polyethene terephthalate (PET) and the interest in eco-accommodating energy storage arrangements have prompted escalated examination into reusing waste PET into supercapacitors. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the most recent advancements in the recycling of polyethylene terephthalate waste (PETW), as a supercapacitor electrode precursor. The review looks at different methodologies for recovering PET from waste, including mechanical, chemical, enzyme, etc. It further explores the combination strategies for electrode materials produced using PET. Besides, PET-derived materials' electrochemical performance in supercapacitor application is likewise broken down, with an emphasis on key electrochemical boundaries like capacitive behaviour, cyclic stability, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The need for scalable and cost-effective recycling methods, the creation of eco-friendly electrolytes, and the improvement of the electrochemical performance of recycled PET-based supercapacitors are just a few of the issues and opportunities highlighted in this expanding eco-friendly industry. Overall, the goal of this review is to provide a comprehensive understanding of the cutting-edge developments in the use of recycled PETW as a precursor for supercapacitor electrodes, highlighting the eco-friendly energy storage solution's potential and contributing to a sustainable future.

Lifecycle Management for Sustainable Plastics: Recent Progress from Synthesis, Processing to Upcycling

Plastics, renowned for their outstanding properties and extensive applications, assume an indispensable and irreplaceable role in modern society. However, the ubiquitous consumption of plastic items has led to a growing accumulation of plastic waste. Unreasonable practices in the production, utilization, and recycling of plastics have led to substantial energy resource depletion and environmental pollution. Herein, the state-of-the-art advancements in the lifecycle management of plastics are timely reviewed. Unlike typical reviews focused on plastic recycling, this work presents an in-depth analysis of the entire lifecycle of plastics, covering the whole process from synthesis, processing, to ultimate disposal. The primary emphasis lies on selecting judicious strategies and methodologies at each lifecycle stage to mitigate the adverse environmental impact of waste plastics. Specifically, the article delineates the rationale, methods, and advancements realized in various lifecycle stages through both physical and chemical recycling pathways. The focal point is the attainment of optimal recycling rates for waste plastics, thereby alleviating the ecological burden of plastic pollution. By scrutinizing the entire lifecycle of plastics, the article aims to furnish comprehensive solutions for reducing plastic pollution and fostering sustainability across all facets of plastic production, utilization, and disposal.

Recent Progresses and Challenges in Upcycling of Plastics through Selective Catalytic Oxidation

Chemical upcycling of plastics provides an important direction for solving the challenging issues of plastic pollution and mitigating the wastage of carbon resources. Among them, catalytic oxidative cracking of plastics to produce high-value chemicals, such as catalytic oxidation of polyethylene (PE) to produce fatty dicarboxylic acids, catalytic oxidation of polystyrene (PS) to produce benzoic acid, and catalytic oxidation of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) to produce terephthalic acid under mild conditions has attracted increasing attention, and some exciting progress has been made recently. In this article, we will review recent progresses on the catalytic oxidation upcycling of plastics and provide our understanding on the current challenges in catalytic oxidation upcycling of plastics.

Polymer Waste Valorization into Advanced Carbon Nanomaterials for Potential Energy and Environment Applications

The rise in universal population and accompanying demands have directed toward an exponential surge in the generation of polymeric waste. The estimate predicts that world-wide plastic production will rise to ≈590 million metric tons by 2050, whereas 5000 million more tires will be routinely abandoned by 2030. Handling this waste and its detrimental consequences on the Earth's ecosystem and human health presents a significant challenge. Converting the wastes into carbon-based functional materials viz. activated carbon, graphene, and nanotubes is considered the most scientific and adaptable method. Herein, this world provides an overview of the various sources of polymeric wastes, modes of build-up, impact on the environment, and management approaches. Update on advances and novel modifications made in methodologies for converting diverse types of polymeric wastes into carbon nanomaterials over the last 5 years are given. A remarkable focus is made to comprehend the applications of polymeric waste-derived carbon nanomaterials (PWDCNMs) in the CO2 capture, removal of heavy metal ions, supercapacitor-based energy storage and water splitting with an emphasis on the correlation between PWDCNMs' properties and their performances. This review offers insights into emerging developments in the upcycling of polymeric wastes and their applications in environment and energy.

An Overview of the Non-Energetic Valorization Possibilities of Plastic Waste via Thermochemical Processes

The recovery and recycling/upcycling of plastics and polymer-based materials is needed in order to reduce plastic waste accumulated over decades. Mechanical recycling processes have made a great contribution to the circularity of plastic materials, contributing to 99% of recycled thermoplastics. Challenges facing this family of processes limit its outreach to 30% of plastic waste. Complementary pathways are needed to increase recycling rates. Chemical processes have the advantage of decomposing plastics into a variety of hydrocarbons that can cover a wide range of applications, such as monomers, lubricants, phase change materials, solvents, BTX (benzene, toluene, xylene), etc. The aim of the present work is to shed light on different chemical recycling pathways, with a special focus on thermochemicals. The study will cover the effects of feedstock, operating conditions, and processes used on the final products. Then, it will attempt to correlate these final products to some petrochemical feedstock being used today on a large scale.

Mitigating microplastic pollution: A critical review on the effects, remediation, and utilization strategies of microplastics

Microplastics are found ubiquitous in the natural environment and are an increasing source of worry for global health. Rapid industrialization and inappropriate plastic waste management in our daily lives have resulted in an increase in the amount of microplastics in the ecosystem. Microplastics that are <150 μm in size could be easily ingested by living beings and cause considerable toxicity. Microplastics can aggregate in living organisms and cause acute, chronic, carcinogenic, developmental, and genotoxic damage. As a result, a sustainable approach to reducing, reusing, and recycling plastic waste is required to manage microplastic pollution in the environment. However, there is still a significant lack of effective methods for managing these pollutants. As a result, the purpose of this review is to convey information on microplastic toxicity and management practices that may aid in the reduction of microplastic pollution. This review further insights on how plastic trash could be converted as value-added products, reducing the load of accumulating plastic wastes in the environment, and leading to a beneficial endeavor for humanity.

Applications of waste polyethylene terephthalate (PET) based nanostructured materials: A review

While polyethylene terephthalate (PET) has enjoyed widespread use, a large volume of plastic waste has also been produced as a result, which is detrimental to the environment. Traditional treatment of plastic waste, such as landfilling and incinerating waste, causes environmental pollution and poses risks to public health. Recycling PET waste into useful chemicals or upcycling the waste into high value-added materials can be remedies. This review first provides a brief introduction of the synthesis, structure, properties, and applications of virgin PET. Then the conversion process of waste PET into high value-added materials for different applications are introduced. The conversion mechanisms (including degradation, recycling and upcycling) are detailed. The advanced applications of these upgraded materials in energy storage devices (supercapacitors, lithium-ion batteries, and microbial fuel cells), and for water treatment (to remove dyes, heavy metals, and antibiotics), environmental remediation (for air filtration, CO2 adsorption, and oil removal) and catalysis (to produce H2, photoreduce CO2, and remove toxic chemicals) are discussed at length. In general, this review details the exploration of advanced technologies for the transformation of waste PET into nanostructured materials for various applications, and provides insights into the role of high value-added waste products in sustainability and economic development.

Sustainable ethylene production: Recovery from plastic waste via thermochemical processes

The concept of monomer recovery from plastic waste has recently gained broad interest in industry as a powerful strategy to reduce the environmental impacts of chemical production and plastic waste pollution. Herein, we focus on the ethylene recovery from plastic waste via thermochemical pathways, such as pyrolysis, gasification, and steam cracking of pyrolysis oil derived from plastic waste. Ethylene recovery performance of different thermochemical conversion processes is evaluated and compared with respect to plastic waste types, process types, ethylene recovery yields, and process operating conditions. Based on the analysis of available data in earlier literature, future research is recommended to further enhance the viability of the thermochemical ethylene recovery technologies. This review is expected to offer a meaningful guideline on developing efficient platforms for the value-added monomer recovery from plastic waste through thermochemical conversion routes. It is also hoped that this review serves as a preliminary step to encourage the widespread adoption of thermochemical conversion-based ethylene recovery from plastic waste by industries.

Recent advances in the biodegradation of polyethylene terephthalate with cutinase-like enzymes

Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is a synthetic polymer in the polyester family. It is widely found in objects used daily, including packaging materials (such as bottles and containers), textiles (such as fibers), and even in the automotive and electronics industries. PET is known for its excellent mechanical properties, chemical resistance, and transparency. However, these features (e.g., high hydrophobicity and high molecular weight) also make PET highly resistant to degradation by wild-type microorganisms or physicochemical methods in nature, contributing to the accumulation of plastic waste in the environment. Therefore, accelerated PET recycling is becoming increasingly urgent to address the global environmental problem caused by plastic wastes and prevent plastic pollution. In addition to traditional physical cycling (e.g., pyrolysis, gasification) and chemical cycling (e.g., chemical depolymerization), biodegradation can be used, which involves breaking down organic materials into simpler compounds by microorganisms or PET-degrading enzymes. Lipases and cutinases are the two classes of enzymes that have been studied extensively for this purpose. Biodegradation of PET is an attractive approach for managing PET waste, as it can help reduce environmental pollution and promote a circular economy. During the past few years, great advances have been accomplished in PET biodegradation. In this review, current knowledge on cutinase-like PET hydrolases (such as TfCut2, Cut190, HiC, and LCC) was described in detail, including the structures, ligand-protein interactions, and rational protein engineering for improved PET-degrading performance. In particular, applications of the engineered catalysts were highlighted, such as improving the PET hydrolytic activity by constructing fusion proteins. The review is expected to provide novel insights for the biodegradation of complex polymers.

Opportunities and Challenges of Establishing a Regional Bio-based Polylactic Acid Supply Chain

Polylactic acid (PLA) is the bioplastic with the highest market share. However, it is mainly produced from first-generation feedstock and there are various inconsistencies in the literature in terms of its production and recycling processes, carbon footprint, and prices. The aim of this study is to compile and contrast these aspects and investigate second-generation PLA production from technical, economic, and ecological perspectives simultaneously. The comprehensive analyses also show the chances and challenges of originating a PLA supply chain in a specific region. Herein, the German Federal State of North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) has been chosen as a region of interest. In addition to highlighting the industrial capabilities and synergies, the study quantifies and illustrates the locations of different suitable second-generation feedstocks in the region. However, the identified potentials can be challenged by various obstacles such as the high demand of bioresources, feedstock quality, spatial aspects, and logistics. Furthermore, the substantial price gap between PLA and fossil-based plastics can also discourage the investors to include PLA on their portfolios. Thus, the study also provides recommendations to overcome these obstacles and promote the regional value chains of bioplastics which may serve as prototype for other regions.

Activated carbons derived from polyethylene terephthalate for coin-cell supercapacitor electrodes

We successfully prepared activated carbon derived from polyethylene terephthalate (PET) via carbonization and subsequent activation under various conditions and applied it as active material for supercapacitors. In the activation, we used CO2 for physical activation or KOH for chemical activation and varied the activation temperature from 600 °C to 1,000 °C. We found that CO2 activation is unsuitable because of insufficient pore formation or low activation yield. Interestingly, PET-derived activated carbon obtained using KOH (PETK) at 700 °C-900 °C exhibited higher specific surface areas than YP50f, which is a commercial activated carbon. Furthermore, some PETKs even displayed a dramatic increase in crystallinity. In particular, the PET-derived activated carbon prepared at 900 °C with KOH (PETK900) had the highest retention rate at a high charge-discharge rate and better durability after 2500 cycles than YP50f. Furthermore, employing the same process that we used with the PET chips, we successfully converted waste PET bottles into activated carbon materials. Waste PET-derived activated carbons exhibited good electrochemical performance as active material for supercapacitors. We thus found chemical activation with KOH to be an appropriate method for manufacturing PET-derived activated carbon and PETKs derived both from PET chips and waste PET have considerable potential for commercial use as active materials for supercapacitors.

Electronic Supplementary Material

Supplementary material is available for this article at 10.1007/s11814-023-1466-3 and is accessible for authorized users.

Upcycling face mask wastes generated during COVID-19 into value-added engineering materials: A review

Billions of disposable face masks (i.e., single-use masks) are used and discarded worldwide monthly due to the COVID-19 outbreak. The immethodical disposal of these polymer-based wastes containing non-biodegradable constituents (e.g., polypropylene) has provoked marked and severe damage to the ecosystem. Meanwhile, their ever-growing usage significantly strains the present-day waste management measures such as landfilling and incineration, resulting in large quantities of used face-covering masks landing in the environment as importunate contaminants. Hence, alternative waste management strategies are crucially demanded to decrease the negative impacts of face mask contamination. In this venue, developing high-yield, effective, and green routes toward recycling or upcycling face mask wastes (FMWs) into value-added materials is of great importance. While existing recycling processes assist the traditional waste management, they typically end up in materials with downgraded physicochemical, structural, mechanical, and thermal characteristics with reduced values. Therefore, pursuing potential economic upcycling processes would be more beneficial than waste disposal and/or recycling processes. This paper reviews recent advances in the FMWs upcycling methods. In particular, we focus on producing value-added materials via various waste conversion methods, including carbonization (i.e., extreme pyrolysis), pyrolysis (i.e., rapid carbonization), catalytic conversion, chemical treatment, and mechanical reprocessing. Generally, the upcycling methods are promising, firming the vital role of managing FMWs' fate and shedding light on the road of state-of-the-art materials design and synthesis.

Structure-oriented conversions of plastics to carbon nanomaterials

The accumulation of waste plastics has caused serious environmental issues due to their unbiodegradable nature and hazardous additives. Converting waste plastics to different carbon nanomaterials (CNMs) is a promising approach to minimize plastic pollution and realize advanced manufacturing of CNMs. The reported plastic-derived carbons include carbon filaments (i.e. carbon nanotubes and carbon nanofibers), graphene, carbon nanosheets, carbon sphere, and porous carbon. In this review, we present the influences of different intrinsic structures of plastics on the pyrolysis intermediates. We also reveal that non-charring plastics are prone to being pyrolyzed into light hydrocarbons while charring plastics are prone to being pyrolyzed into aromatics. Subsequently, light hydrocarbons favor to form graphite while aromatics are inclined to form amorphous carbon during the carbon formation process. In addition, the conversion tendency of different plastics into various morphologies of carbon is concluded. We also discuss other impact factors during the transformation process, including catalysts, temperature, processing duration and templates, and reveal how to obtain different morphological CNMs from plastics. Finally, current technology limitations and perspectives are presented to provide future research directions in effective plastic conversion and advanced CNM synthesis.

The impact factors in transforming plastics into carbon nanomaterials are reviewed.

The carbon morphology tendency from different plastics is revealed.

Directions for future research on plastic carbonization are presented.

Closing the Carbon Loop in the Circular Plastics Economy

Today, plastics are ubiquitous in everyday life, problem solvers of modern technologies, and crucial for sustainable development. Yet the surge in global demand for plastics of the growing world population has triggered a tidal wave of plastic debris in the environment. Moving from a linear to a zero-waste and carbon-neutral circular plastic economy is vital for the future of the planet. Taming the plastic waste flood requires closing the carbon loop through plastic reuse, mechanical and molecular recycling, carbon capture, and use of the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide. In the quest for eco-friendly products, plastics do not need to be reinvented but tuned for reuse and recycling. Their full potential must be exploited regarding energy, resource, and eco efficiency, waste prevention, circular economy, climate change mitigation, and lowering environmental pollution. Biodegradation holds promise for composting and bio-feedstock recovery, but it is neither the Holy Grail of circular plastics economy nor a panacea for plastic littering. As an alternative to mechanical downcycling, molecular recycling enables both closed-loop recovery of virgin plastics and open-loop valorization, producing hydrogen, fuels, refinery feeds, lubricants, chemicals, and carbonaceous materials. Closing the carbon loop does not create a Perpetuum Mobile and requires renewable energy to achieve sustainability. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Polyethylene-Derived Activated Carbon Materials for Commercially Available Supercapacitor in an Organic Electrolyte System

We fabricated high-performance supercapacitors based on activated carbons (AC) derived from Polyethylene (PE), which is one of the most abundant plastic materials worldwide. First, PE carbons (PEC) were prepared via sulfonation, which is reported solution for successful carbonization of innately non-carbonizable PE. Then, we explored the physico-electrical changes of PECs upon a chemical activation process. Interestingly, upon the chemical activation, PECs were converted ACs with a large surface area and high crystallinity at the same time. Subsequently, we exploited PE-derived ACs (PEAC) as electrode materials for supercapacitors. Resultant supercapacitors based on PEACs exhibited impressive performance. When compared to supercapacitors based on YP50f, a representative commercial ACs, devices using PEACs presented considerably good capacitance, low resistance, and great rate capability. Specifically, the retention rate of devices using PEACs was significantly higher than that of YP50f-based devices. At the high-rate of charge-discharge situation reaching 7 A g^-1 , the capacitance of supercapacitors using PEACs was about 70% higher than that of YP50f-based devices. We assumed the carbon structure accompanying both large surface area and high conductivity endowed a great electrochemical performance at the high current operating conditions. Therefore, it is envisioned PE might be a viable candidate electrode material for commercially available supercapacitors. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Synthesis and Characterization of Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles Loaded with Pt Catalysts

Coating the catalyst with a nanoporous layer has been demonstrated to be an effective approach to improve catalyst stability. Herein, we systematically investigate two types of core-shell mesoporous silica nanoparticles with a platinum nanocatalyst using a variety of characterization methods. One of the mesoporous particles has a unique amine ring structure in the middle of a shell (Ring-mSiO2/Pt-5.0/SiO2), and the other one has no ring structure (mSiO2/Pt-5.0/SiO2). Brunauer–Emmett–Teller/Barrett–Joyner–Halenda (BET/BJH) presented a similar surface area for both particles, and the pore size was 2.4 nm. Ultra-Small-Angle X-ray Scattering (USAXS)/ Small-Angle X-ray Scattering (SAXS) showed the size of mSiO2/Pt-5.0/SiO2 and Ring-mSiO2/Pt-5.0/SiO2 were 420 nm and 272 nm, respectively. It also showed that the ring structure was 30 nm above the silica core. Using high-resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), it was found that the platinum nanoparticles are loaded evenly on the surface of the silica. In situ SAXS heating experiments and Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA) indicated that the mSiO2/Pt-5.0/SiO2 were more stable during the high temperature, while the Ring-mSiO2/Pt-5.0/SiO2 had more change in the particle.

Upcycling Waste Polyethylene into Carbon Nanomaterial Via A Carbon-Grown-On-Carbon Strategy

Upcycling waste plastics (e.g., polyethylene (PE)) into value-added carbon products is regarded as a promising approach to address the increasingly serious waste plastic pollution and simultaneously achieve carbon neutrality. However, developing new carbonization technology routes to promote the oxidation of PE at low temperature and construct the stable crosslinking network remains challenging. Here, we propose a facile carbon-grown-on-carbon strategy using carbon black (CB) to convert waste PE into core/shell carbon nanoparticles (CN) in high yields at low temperature. The yield of CN remarkably rises when the heating temperature decreases or the dosage of CB grows. The obtained CN displays turbostratic structure and closely aggregated granular morphology with a size of ca. 80 nm. It is found, prior to the oxidation and carbonization of PE, CB forms a 3D network architecture in the PE matrix. More importantly, CB not only catalyzes the partial oxidation of PE to form PE macromolecular radicals and introduce oxygen-containing groups at low temperature in the early stage, but also favors for the construction of a stable crosslinking network in the latter stage. This work offers a facile sustainable strategy for chemical upcycling of PE into value-added carbon products without post-treatments or usage of metallic catalysts. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.