Photocatalytic upcycling of polylactic acid to alanine by sulfur vacancy-rich cadmium sulfide
Abstract Photocatalytic conversion has emerged as a promising strategy for harnessing renewable solar energy in the valorization of plastic waste. However, research on the photocatalytic transformation of plastics into valuable nitrogen-containing chemicals remains limited. In this study, we present...
| Үндсэн зохиолчид: | , , , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Формат: | Өгүүллэг |
| Хэл сонгох: | English |
| Хэвлэсэн: |
Nature Portfolio
2025-01-01
|
| Цуврал: | Nature Communications |
| Онлайн хандалт: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-55930-x |
| _version_ | 1826855104479756288 |
|---|---|
| author | Yue Wu Phuc T. T. Nguyen Sie Shing Wong Minjun Feng Peijie Han Bingqing Yao Qian He Tze Chien Sum Tianyong Zhang Ning Yan |
| author_facet | Yue Wu Phuc T. T. Nguyen Sie Shing Wong Minjun Feng Peijie Han Bingqing Yao Qian He Tze Chien Sum Tianyong Zhang Ning Yan |
| author_sort | Yue Wu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Photocatalytic conversion has emerged as a promising strategy for harnessing renewable solar energy in the valorization of plastic waste. However, research on the photocatalytic transformation of plastics into valuable nitrogen-containing chemicals remains limited. In this study, we present a visible-light-driven pathway for the conversion of polylactic acid (PLA) into alanine under mild conditions. This process is catalyzed by defect-engineered CdS nanocrystals synthesized at room temperature. We observe a distinctive volcano-shaped relationship between sulfur vacancy content in CdS and the corresponding alanine production rate reaching up to 4.95 mmol/g catalyst/h at 70 oC. Ultraviolet-visible, photocurrent, electrochemical impedance, transient absorption, photoluminescence, and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy collectively highlight the crucial role of sulfur vacancies. The surface vacancies serve as adsorption sites for lactic acid; however, an excessive number of vacancies can hinder charge transfer efficiency. Sulfur vacancy-rich CdS exhibits high stability with maintained performance and morphology over several runs, effectively converts real-life PLA products and shows potential in the amination of other polyesters. This work not only highlights a facile approach for fabricating defect-engineered catalysts but also presents a sustainable method for upcycling plastic waste into valuable chemicals. |
| first_indexed | 2025-02-16T17:55:58Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-2b81432d406c40f49aae5b901b1c5bd0 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2041-1723 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2025-02-16T17:55:58Z |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Nature Communications |
| spelling | doaj.art-2b81432d406c40f49aae5b901b1c5bd02025-01-26T12:41:34ZengNature PortfolioNature Communications2041-17232025-01-0116111210.1038/s41467-025-55930-xPhotocatalytic upcycling of polylactic acid to alanine by sulfur vacancy-rich cadmium sulfideYue Wu0Phuc T. T. Nguyen1Sie Shing Wong2Minjun Feng3Peijie Han4Bingqing Yao5Qian He6Tze Chien Sum7Tianyong Zhang8Ning Yan9Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, National University of SingaporeDepartment of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, National University of SingaporeDepartment of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, National University of SingaporeDivision of Physics and Applied Physics, School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, Nanyang Technological UniversityDepartment of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, National University of SingaporeDepartment of Materials Science and Engineering, National University of SingaporeDepartment of Materials Science and Engineering, National University of SingaporeDivision of Physics and Applied Physics, School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, Nanyang Technological UniversityTianjin Key Laboratory of Applied Catalysis Science and Technology, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin UniversityDepartment of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, National University of SingaporeAbstract Photocatalytic conversion has emerged as a promising strategy for harnessing renewable solar energy in the valorization of plastic waste. However, research on the photocatalytic transformation of plastics into valuable nitrogen-containing chemicals remains limited. In this study, we present a visible-light-driven pathway for the conversion of polylactic acid (PLA) into alanine under mild conditions. This process is catalyzed by defect-engineered CdS nanocrystals synthesized at room temperature. We observe a distinctive volcano-shaped relationship between sulfur vacancy content in CdS and the corresponding alanine production rate reaching up to 4.95 mmol/g catalyst/h at 70 oC. Ultraviolet-visible, photocurrent, electrochemical impedance, transient absorption, photoluminescence, and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy collectively highlight the crucial role of sulfur vacancies. The surface vacancies serve as adsorption sites for lactic acid; however, an excessive number of vacancies can hinder charge transfer efficiency. Sulfur vacancy-rich CdS exhibits high stability with maintained performance and morphology over several runs, effectively converts real-life PLA products and shows potential in the amination of other polyesters. This work not only highlights a facile approach for fabricating defect-engineered catalysts but also presents a sustainable method for upcycling plastic waste into valuable chemicals.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-55930-x |
| spellingShingle | Yue Wu Phuc T. T. Nguyen Sie Shing Wong Minjun Feng Peijie Han Bingqing Yao Qian He Tze Chien Sum Tianyong Zhang Ning Yan Photocatalytic upcycling of polylactic acid to alanine by sulfur vacancy-rich cadmium sulfide Nature Communications |
| title | Photocatalytic upcycling of polylactic acid to alanine by sulfur vacancy-rich cadmium sulfide |
| title_full | Photocatalytic upcycling of polylactic acid to alanine by sulfur vacancy-rich cadmium sulfide |
| title_fullStr | Photocatalytic upcycling of polylactic acid to alanine by sulfur vacancy-rich cadmium sulfide |
| title_full_unstemmed | Photocatalytic upcycling of polylactic acid to alanine by sulfur vacancy-rich cadmium sulfide |
| title_short | Photocatalytic upcycling of polylactic acid to alanine by sulfur vacancy-rich cadmium sulfide |
| title_sort | photocatalytic upcycling of polylactic acid to alanine by sulfur vacancy rich cadmium sulfide |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-55930-x |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT yuewu photocatalyticupcyclingofpolylacticacidtoalaninebysulfurvacancyrichcadmiumsulfide AT phucttnguyen photocatalyticupcyclingofpolylacticacidtoalaninebysulfurvacancyrichcadmiumsulfide AT sieshingwong photocatalyticupcyclingofpolylacticacidtoalaninebysulfurvacancyrichcadmiumsulfide AT minjunfeng photocatalyticupcyclingofpolylacticacidtoalaninebysulfurvacancyrichcadmiumsulfide AT peijiehan photocatalyticupcyclingofpolylacticacidtoalaninebysulfurvacancyrichcadmiumsulfide AT bingqingyao photocatalyticupcyclingofpolylacticacidtoalaninebysulfurvacancyrichcadmiumsulfide AT qianhe photocatalyticupcyclingofpolylacticacidtoalaninebysulfurvacancyrichcadmiumsulfide AT tzechiensum photocatalyticupcyclingofpolylacticacidtoalaninebysulfurvacancyrichcadmiumsulfide AT tianyongzhang photocatalyticupcyclingofpolylacticacidtoalaninebysulfurvacancyrichcadmiumsulfide AT ningyan photocatalyticupcyclingofpolylacticacidtoalaninebysulfurvacancyrichcadmiumsulfide |