Publications by authors named "Weichen Du"

Article Synopsis
  • * Researchers developed a new method using activated carbon-supported Pt-Cu intermetallic compounds to convert 1,2-propanediol (1,2-PDO) directly into lactic acid, achieving a 64.6% yield within 2 hours at 100 °C.
  • * The study found that these Pt-Cu intermetallics effectively activated molecular oxygen and 1,2-PDO, facilitating the oxidation process needed to produce lactic acid.
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The rapidly increasing production and widespread application of plastics have brought convenience to our lives, but they have consumed a huge amount of nonrenewable fossil energy, leading to additional CO emissions and generation of an enormous amount of plastic waste (also called white pollution). Chemical recycling and upcycling of waste plastic products (also called waste plastic refineries) into recycled monomers and/or valuable chemicals can decrease the dependence on fossil energy and/or reduce the emission of CO, enabling the full utilization of carbon resources for the development of a circular economy. Polyesters, a vital class of plastics, are ideal feedstocks for chemical recycling due to the easily depolymerizable ester bonds compared to polyolefins.

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Article Synopsis
  • Efficient recycling of lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries is essential, but current methods involve complex processes that require multiple steps to regenerate spent LFP (SLFP) electrodes.
  • Researchers have developed a new technique called direct electrode reuse (DER), which revitalizes SLFP electrodes in just 6 minutes using a specific lithium solution, restoring their structure and electrochemical performance.
  • The DER method not only enhances the lifespan of LFP electrodes—achieving a high specific capacity even after 3 months—but also offers significant economic and environmental advantages over traditional recycling methods.
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Article Synopsis
  • The solid electrolyte interface (SEI) is crucial for enhancing the performance and longevity of graphite anodes in batteries, affecting both Coulombic efficiency (CE) and cycling stability.
  • Regenerating graphite anodes typically destroys existing SEIs and residual lithium, hampering effective reuse; however, a new fast-heating method can transform the SEI while preserving lithium for better performance.
  • This upcycling strategy not only improves the graphite's initial CE and energy density significantly but also offers economic and environmental advantages by turning waste materials into valuable prelithiated anodes.
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