Plasma-Engineered Plastics-Derived Nanographene-Based Single-Atom Catalysts

Plastic waste is a prevalent material found in plastic bottles and optical discs, contributing significantly to annual production volumes and posing a pressing need for efficient recycling methods to safeguard the environment. The development of recycling method for plastic waste under ambient conditions is demanded. Single atom catalysts (SACs) represent a revolutionary advancement in the field of catalysis, offering unparalleled efficiency and selectivity in chemical reactions. Unlike traditional heterogeneous catalysts, which consist of clusters or nanoparticles, SACs feature isolated metal atoms dispersed on a support material. This unique atomic-scale architecture maximizes the utilization of active sites, leading to exceptional catalytic performance. SACs have garnered significant attention across various industries due to their potential to catalyze a wide range of reactions with high activity and selectivity, while also minimizing the use of precious metal resources. In recent years, SACs have emerged as promising candidates for addressing key challenges in energy conversion, environmental remediation, and chemical synthesis, positioning them as transformative catalysts for future sustainable technologies.<br/><br/>Here we report a novel recycling method whereby plastic waste is converted into graphene quantum dot (GQD)-based SACs using atmospheric-pressure microplasma under ambient conditions. The synthesized GQD-based SACs demonstrate remarkable catalytic activity, particularly in the rapid reduction of carcinogenic 4-nitrophenol (4-NP) to the essential pharmaceutical intermediate 4-aminophenol (4-AP). Furthermore, the fact that H2O2 is involved in the production of luminous materials implies that using a peroxidase might potentially speed up the reaction. Furthermore, these SACs exhibit nanozyme-like activities, enabling organic dye photodegradation. Notably, our catalysts display exceptional catalytic performance with a Km value of 0.01653 for peroxide-like (POD) activity applications, highlighting their versatility. This work provides an approach to recycling, transforming plastic waste into a useful nanocatalysts for carbon neutral society.