Recent Advances and Perspectives in Carbonization of Waste PET Plastics

The widespread application of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastics has generated severe environmental challenges while also providing abundant precursor resources for the sustainable production of carbon materials. This review systematically summarizes state‐of‐the‐art research progress in preparing high‐performance carbon nanomaterials using waste PET as a precursor. It highlights the key characteristics of PET as a carbon source and elucidates its underlying carbonization mechanisms. Core carbonization strategies for converting waste PET into carbon materials, including porous carbon, carbon nanosheets, carbon nanotubes, graphene, and their derivatives, are discussed. The effects of key parameters, such as carbonization temperature, activator type and dosage, catalysts, and reaction atmospheres, on the physicochemical properties of the final carbon materials are also analyzed. Furthermore, potential applications of waste PET‐derived carbon materials are discussed. By integrating contemporary research paradigms, this review underscores the significance of techno‐economic analysis and life cycle assessment in evaluating the sustainability of PET‐derived carbon materials. Finally, future perspectives are summarized to provide a strategic reference for waste PET resource recycling and its green transformation into carbon materials.