REPLAXTIC · Plastic upcycling for sustainable new generation batteries
Horizon 2020 — Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
- Duration
- 2021-06-01 → 2023-05-31
- EU contribution
- €160,932
- Participants
- 1
- Scheme
- MSCA-IF
Lines connect the coordinator with its partners.
Results in brief
Plastic upcycling for sustainable new generation batteries
An applied complete library of molecules have been obtained both as discrete electrolites as polymeric electrolites. The results are available at the Polykey, in the laboratory notebooks and the metadata on Zenodo after publication in the respective journals as stated in the proposal. Concluding, a novel procedure for performing the depolymerization of bisphenol-A polycarbonate at low temperatures has been described. It has been demonstrated that the success of this approach is made possible by the use of a solvent that favors the interaction of the catalyst and the polymer and a catalytic system that promotes the cyclisation into cyclic carbonates over the polymerization. It was found that using imidazoles as solvents and catalyst led to complete depolymerization with a high yield of cyclic carbonates around 80% at 50 ºC for 3 h. To date, sustainable routes for the preparation of cyclic carbonates are scarce and quite inefficient, mainly because of the high tendency of them to polymerize. The procedure was extended to other nucleophiles demonstrating the potential of this process to prepare various carbonyl-containing cyclic molecules. Respective polymers have been done and fully characterized, ready as alter ego for the single molecules for lithium ion batteries.
Data: CORDIS, © European Union
Project objective
The plastic waste into the environment is a global problem which is raising concern among the population. Although there are many approaches for recycling plastics, chemical recycling is now seen as one of the most promising technologies in that it allows plastic waste to become high valuable products. Bisphenol A polycarbonate (BPC) is a common thermoplastic employed in optical devices, automobile, technologies, largely because of its mechanical properties. The chemical recycling of BPC is a carbonyl reservoir for the synthesis of carbonyl compounds, with some of these reactions considered as upcycling methods because of the high value of the products. In REPLAXTIC EF-SE, “Plastic Upcycling for sustainable new generation batteries”, polycarbonate plastic waste will be transformed into added value electrolytes to power sustainable lithium ion batteries, The design of the materials will start from the catalytic depolymerization of BPC using sur measure diols, bearing e.g. anionic, oxygen rich or crosslinkable groups which can boost chemical and physical performances. This pathway will enable to have a first class of liquid electrolyte that can be further polymerized to create safe solid electrolytes for future lithium batteries. The fellow Dr. Daniele Mantione has a solid international experience in organic and polymer chemistry with an impressive track record of scientific publications and prizes. The project is going to combine the chemistry expertise of Dr. Daniele Mantione with the entrepreneurial spirit and depolymerization expertise of the start-up POLYKEY. The planned secondment to Australia will ally one of the best world-knowledge about electromaterials of Prof. Forsyth to push the real application of the disruptive upcycled products. The training in materials for energy and entrepreneurship combined with his previous expertise will equip the fellow with unique skills and increase his attractiveness in the European job market.
Original text from CORDIS.
Participants
- POLYKEY POLYMERS SL · San SebastianCoordinatorSpain
Links
Data: CORDIS, © European Union