Microwave-assisted upcycling of plastic waste to high-performance carbon anode for lithium-ion batteries
Abstract
The increasing demand for high-performance lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) has emphasized the need for affordable and sustainable materials, prompting the exploration of waste upcycling to address global sustainability challenges. In this study, we efficiently converted polypropylene (PP) plastic waste from used centrifuge tubes into activated polypropylene carbon (APC) using microwave-assisted pyrolysis. The synthesis of APC was optimized using response surface methodology/central composite design (RSM/CCD). Based on the RSM results, the optimal conditions for PP plastic conversion into carbon were determined as follows: HNO 3 concentration of 3.5 M, microwave temperature of 230 °C, and holding time of 25 min. Under these conditions, the obtained intensity ratio of I d/I g in PP carbon was 0.681 ± 0.013, with an error of 6.81 ± 0.013 % between predicted and actual values. The physicochemical studies, including FESEM-EDX, XRD, and Raman spectroscopy, confirmed the successful synthesis of APC samples. The APC 800 material exhibited a well-organized three-dimensional structure characterized by large pores and mesopores, enabling fast ion transport in the electrode. As a result, the APC 800 electrode demonstrated an initial discharge capacity of 381.0 mAh/g, an improved initial coulombic efficiency of 85.1%, and excellent cycling stability after 100 cycles. Notably, the APC 800 electrode displayed remarkable rate performance, showing a reversible capacity of 355.1 mAh/g when the current density was reset to 0.2 A/g, highlighting its high electrochemical reversibility. The outstanding characteristics of APC 800 as an anode electrode material for high-performance lithium-ion batteries suggest a promising future for its application in the field.
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The performance improvement of the activated porous carbon is attributed to its 3D ordered macro-mesoporous structure, enabling rapid ion transport within the electrode.
“The performance improvement is attributed to the 3D ordered macro-mesoporous structure of the generated carbon material, enabling rapid ion transport within the electrode.”
From Functional carbon materials from waste plastics: synthesis and applications (2025) · cites this paper as [123]
Mohd Abdah et al. used microwave-assisted pyrolysis to convert waste polypropylene into activated porous carbon with a hierarchical pore structure for high-performance lithium battery anodes.
“By precisely optimizing process parameters (3.5 mol/L nitric acid concentration, 230 °C temperature, 25 min holding time) using response surface methodology, they successfully transformed the polypropylene into activated porous carbon (APC) with a hierarchical pore structure (Fig. 10a).”
From Functional carbon materials from waste plastics: synthesis and applications (2025) · cites this paper as [123]
As a lithium battery anode, the activated porous carbon exhibited three key advantages: enhanced kinetics, stabilized interfaces, and structural durability.
“As a lithium battery anode, it exhibited three key advantages: enhanced kinetics, stabilized interfaces, and structural durability.”
From Functional carbon materials from waste plastics: synthesis and applications (2025) · cites this paper as [123]
The activated porous carbon features a synergistic structure of a 3D ordered macroporous skeleton and abundant mesoporous channels.
“The material features a synergistic structure of a 3D ordered macroporous skeleton and abundant mesoporous channels.”
From Functional carbon materials from waste plastics: synthesis and applications (2025) · cites this paper as [123]
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- Authors
- Mohd Abdah, M. A. A., Mohammad Azlan, F. N., Wong, W. P., Mustafa, M. N., Walvekar, R., & Khalid, M.
- Affiliations
- Sunway University (MY)
- Taylor's University (MY)
- Manipal Academy of Higher Education (IN)
- Corresponding author
- Khalid, Mohammad
- Venue
- Chemosphere
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2024-02
- Volume
- 349
- Pages
- 140973
- ISSN
- 0045-6535 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W4389921297
- Cited by
- 26
- References
- 49
- Citations by year
- 2026: 13 · 2025: 7 · 2024: 6
- FWCI
- 1.93
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Licence
- Locations
- Chemosphere (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Sunway University (-001-2021)
- British Council
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Engineering › Electrical and Electronic Engineering › Advancements in Battery Materials
- Physical Sciences › Engineering › Mechanical Engineering › Extraction and Separation Processes
- Physical Sciences › Engineering › Electrical and Electronic Engineering › Advanced Battery Materials and Technologies
- Keywords
- polypropylene plastic waste, microwave pyrolysis, lithium-ion battery anodes, waste upcycling, plastic waste valorization, nitric acid activation, carbonization, mesoporous carbon, rate capability, cycling stability, centrifuge tubes
- MeSH terms
- Carbon, Charcoal, Electrodes, Ions, Lithium, Microwaves, Polypropylenes
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