Plastic waste as a feedstock for solar-driven H2 generation

Abstract

Solar-driven reforming of plastics offers a simple and low-energy means to turn waste into H₂. Here, we report the efficient photoreforming of three commonly produced polymers – polylactic acid, polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and polyurethane – using inexpensive CdS/CdO_x quantum dots in alkaline aqueous solution. This process operates under ambient temperature and pressure, generates pure H₂ and converts the waste polymer into organic products such as formate, acetate and pyruvate. We further validate the real-world applicability of the system by converting a PET water bottle into H₂. This is the first demonstration of visible light-driven, noble metal-free photoreforming of plastic.