Fast and facile synthesis of two-dimensional FeIII nanosheets based on fluid-shear exfoliation for highly catalytic glycolysis of poly(ethylene terephthalate)

Abstract

In this study, two-dimensional (2D) and exfoliated Fe^III nanosheets are prepared using a fast and facile fluid-dynamics-induced exfoliation method for large-scale production. The resulting Fe^III nanosheet is ultrathin and of 2D morphology with a high surface area. The Fe^III nanosheet exhibits excellent glycolysis-catalytic performance for polyethylene terephthalate (PET) degradation to produce a bis(hydroxyethyl) terephthalate (BHET) monomer. A high PET conversion of 100% and a high BHET yield of 100% using the Fe^III nanosheet catalyst are achieved within a short reaction time (30 min) at a reaction temperature of 200 °C. Furthermore, the Fe^III nanosheet catalyst shows excellent recyclability for the glycolysis of PET, and a high BHET yield of 96.7% was obtained after five cycles.