Lithium-ion batteries and plastics are two of the most consumed products in modern society, yet their end-of-life disposal issues have become increasingly prominent: spent batteries contain toxic substances and cause resource waste, posing dual environmental risks; plastics, on the other hand, pose significant challenges to global recycling systems due to their massive volume and high chemical stability.

Now, researchers from Soochow University have jointly developed a novel dual-waste recycling strategy that can address both problems simultaneously. In a recent study published in Science Bulletin, they transformed spent lithium-ion batteries into catalysts for plastic recycling through an innovative dual-waste co-recycling strategy. This method not only enables high-value reuse of low-cost spent lithium manganese oxide (LMO) cathodes but also achieves efficient depolymerization of various polyesters. This research establishes a sustainable upcycling pathway for lithium-ion battery and plastic waste, providing a blueprint for large-scale circular economy.

As cities grow denser and hotter, creating space for greenery becomes increasingly difficult. To address this challenge, researchers from Chiba University developed a data-driven framework that integrates artificial intelligence and spatial analysis to map vertical greenery across Tokyo’s 23 wards. By analyzing over 80,000 street-view images, the team identified uneven distribution patterns and proposed a vertical greening demand index to guide future urban greening initiatives and climate-resilient urban planning.

Distribution-type membrane reactors are expected to be highly promising for carbon dioxide methanation reaction. In a recent breakthrough, a group of scientists from Shibaura Institute of Technology, Japan, has demonstrated the efficacy of these reactors and also examined the effect of membrane properties on reaction parameters. The present findings are a significant step towards a greener, cleaner, and more sustainable future.