LED-light-driven active packaging based on a scalable g-C3N4/TiO2 nanocomposite for ethylene scavenging and plum preservation

Hua, Lei, Li, Nian, Zhang, Wenyu, Chachvalvutikul, Auttaphon, Bailey, Liam A., Akdim, Ouardia, Ruan, Chang-Qing and Hutchings, Graham J. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8885-1560 2026. LED-light-driven active packaging based on a scalable g-C3N4/TiO2 nanocomposite for ethylene scavenging and plum preservation. Journal of Future Foods 10.1016/j.jfutfo.2026.10.004

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Abstract

The mitigation of ethylene-induced postharvest losses in climacteric fruits requires the development of efficient, scalable, and economically viable active packaging. This study presents a green, simple nanomanufacturing approach—utilizing a facile aqueous mixing method—to produce a visible-light-driven graphitic carbon nitride/titanium dioxide (g-C3N4/TiO2) photocatalyst tailored for ethylene scavenging. By optimizing the synthesis parameters (including the precursor calcination temperature of 500 °C and a g-C3N4-to-TiO2 mass ratio of 1:8) with comprehensive characterization (SEM, XRD, EPR, PL, XPS), a highly functional heterostructure was engineered and subsequently incorporated into a polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) matrix to fabricate an active composite film. The optimized catalyst powder and the resulting functional film (g/T/Popt) demonstrated significant ethylene degradation capacities of ∼40 % and ∼33 %, respectively, within 10 hours under energy-efficient LED illumination. Crucially, the practical application of this active packaging was validated in the postharvest storage of ‘Wushan’ plums. The composite packaging effectively regulated the storage microenvironment by reducing ethylene accumulation by 29 % compared to the PVA control, which consequently delayed the ripening process and extended the commercial shelf life of the fruit by 3–5 d. This work provides a commercially scalable and green manufacturing pathway for advanced photocatalytic active packaging, offering a sustainable technological solution to reduce food waste in the supply chain.

Item Type:	Article
Date Type:	Published Online
Status:	In Press
Schools:	Schools > Chemistry Schools > Physical, Chemical & Environmental Sciences
Publisher:	Elsevier BV
ISSN:	2772-5669
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	19 October 2026
Date of Acceptance:	10 August 2026
Last Modified:	19 Oct 2026 15:57
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/190282

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