Single-atom catalysis for plastic upcycling to high-value compounds

Plastic waste has caused severe environmental pollution. Plastic upcycling through heterogeneous catalysis has emerged as a promising approach for producing high-value compounds. This perspective summarizes recent advances in single-atom catalysts (SACs) for the upcycling of various plastics, including polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, polyethylene terephthalate, and polyvinyl chloride. The advantages of SACs over conventional nanoparticle catalysts, their unique properties, and the origins of their high selectivity toward target products are discussed. Finally, the remaining challenges and future perspectives for the development of SACs for plastic upcycling, involving upcycling of mixed plastic waste, generation of high-value products, catalyst design driven by artificial intelligence and industrial application, are outlined to guide future research.