Original: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nxnano.2025.100341
Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is a common plastic used to make clear bottles for water, sanitizers, and many other liquids. During the COVID-19 pandemic, people used far more PET products, which created a large increase in PET waste. This waste causes environmental problems and makes waste management more difficult.
PET contains about 11% fixed carbon, has low ash content, and about 30% oxygen, which makes it a good material for producing activated carbon and other porous carbon materials. However, traditional methods for turning PET into these carbon products often have low efficiency and compete with other recycling methods, so large-scale production is not yet practical.
This review looks closely at both old and new methods for converting PET into activated carbon and compares PET with other plastic wastes, such as old tires. It also discusses the broader challenges of plastic waste in general—plastics do not break down naturally, can release toxic byproducts, and can harm ecosystems and human health.
Newer and more innovative methods are being explored to recycle or upcycle plastic into valuable carbon-based nanomaterials, such as carbon quantum dots, nanoparticles, nanotubes, graphene, and 3D porous carbon. These carbon materials made from plastic waste have promising uses in clean energy storage, environmental cleanup, and other green technologies.
The review also highlights environmentally friendly production methods and aims to connect laboratory research with industrial-scale applications. In the context of growing global energy needs and environmental damage, plastic-derived carbon materials could play an important role in building a circular economy and supporting renewable energy solutions.
By summarizing recent progress and pointing out future research needs, this study shows that PET and other plastic wastes can be transformed into high-performance materials. This encourages new recycling strategies and supports worldwide efforts to reduce plastic pollution.