Graphene-templated upcycling of PET yields high-quality synthetic graphite

Researchers at The Pennsylvania State University recently demonstrated a catalyst-free strategy to convert waste polyethylene terephthalate (PET) into highly crystalline graphitic carbon using graphene-based templating additives, achieving structural ordering that in some cases surpasses natural graphite.

PET, a major contributor to single-use plastic waste, is inherently difficult to graphitize due to its oxygen-rich composition, which typically leads to non-graphitizable char during thermal treatment. To overcome this limitation, the team introduced small amounts of graphene oxide (GO) and graphene (Gr) as structure-directing agents during carbonization and graphitization, enabling precise control over crystallite formation without relying on metal catalysts.

Read More Graphene-Info – Graphene industry portal