It turns out that a lot of plastic is thrown away every year, a waste that seems to be getting bigger and bigger. Yet, as reported by Sci-Tech DailyMaybe help is on the way from our good friend, the laser!
The University of Texas research paper describes the use of lasers to break down tough plastics into their basic components. The method is not rather as simple as firing a laser at the plastic. First, the material must be laid down on a special two-dimensional transition metal dichalcogenide material — a type of atomically thin semiconductor that is at the forefront of current research. When the plastics in this scenario are placed under the right laser light, carbon-hydrogen bonds in the plastic are broken and transformed, creating new chemical bonds. If done correctly, you can synthesize luminescent carbon dots from the plastic itself!
“By harnessing these unique reactions, we can explore new pathways to convert environmental pollutants into valuable, reusable chemicals, contributing to the development of a more sustainable and circular economy,” said Yuebing Zheng, a leader of the project. “This discovery has important implications for addressing environmental challenges and advancing the field of green chemistry.”
Sure, it’s a bit trickier than turning old beverage bottles into filament, but it could be very useful for researchers and those investigating high-tech material solutions. Also, don’t forget to look into the enormity of the global plastic recycling problem. If you have the solution, let us know!