Enhanced Degradation and Selective Photoreforming of Polylactic Acid via Solar‐Driven Photocatalytic Reactions

Abstract Extensive studies have focused on improving product selectivity in the photocatalytic reforming of polylactic acid (PLA); however, achieving both high PLA degradation efficiency and reforming selectivity remains a challenge. In this study, we investigated PLA photoreforming using Pt‐loaded TiO 2 (Pt/TiO 2 ) and flux‐treated Pt‐loaded CdS (Pt/flux‐CdS) as photocatalysts for hydrogen production. The synergistic effects of hydrolysis, photodegradation, and photocatalytic reactions significantly enhanced PLA depolymerization. Notably, the flux‐CdS photocatalyst, synthesized via molten salt treatment, exhibited high selectivity toward pyruvic acid (PA) as an oxidative reforming product. Furthermore, under simulated sunlight, the system achieved nearly complete PLA degradation (∼99%), with a high reforming selectivity of ∼96% toward PA. These findings highlight the potential of Pt/flux‐CdS photocatalysts for efficient and selective photoreforming of PLA into valuable products such as hydrogen and organic acids, offering insights into sustainable hydrogen production and organic acid synthesis.