PNNL

Abstract

The rapid rise in the global population and accompanying demands have resulted in an exponential increase in the generation of polymeric waste materials. Handling global polymeric waste and its detrimental consequences on the Earth’s ecosystem and human health presents a significant challenge. Converting the wastes into carbon-based functional materials, such as hierarchical porous activated carbon, graphene, and carbon nanotubes that can be subsequently utilized in diverse potential applications, is considered the most scientifically sound and adaptable method. In this critical review, we first provide an overview of the current universal scenario of polymeric waste by scrutinizing the various sources of polymeric wastes, their modes of accumulation, their impact on the environment and human health, and conventional waste management approaches. Next, we give an update on advances and novel modifications made in methodologies for converting diverse types of polymeric wastes into carbon nanomaterials over the last five years. A remarkable focus has been made to comprehend the applications of polymeric waste derived carbon nanomaterials (PWDCNMs) in the realms of environmental remediation (i.e., CO2 capture and heavy metal adsorption) and supercapacitor-based energy storage, with an emphasis on the correlation between PWDCNMs' properties and their performances. This review will offer insights into emerging developments in the upcycling of polymeric wastes and their related applications in material science, environment, and energy.