Material Microsurgery: Selective Synthesis of Materials via High-Temperature Chemistry for Microrecycling of Electronic Waste

Abstract

This study aims to establish a novel pathway for transforming complex electronic waste into advanced hybrid materials by leveraging high-temperature reactions. This research utilized silica (SiO 2 ) sourced from computer monitor glass; carbon obtained from plastic components of spent monitor shells; and copper (Cu) recovered from waste printed circuit boards (PCBs) to produce a high-quality hybrid layer on a steel substrate. The transformation process consisted of two steps. In the first step, silicon carbide (SiC) nanowires were produced from the spent monitor’s glass and plastic. In the second step, these nanowires were combined with Cu obtained by grinding waste PCBs to produce the hybrid layer over the steel surface. The Cu–SiC hybrid layer on a steel substrate was produced successfully by the judicious selection of waste sources and by selecting a microrecycling technique, which resulted in superior mechanical properties for the end product. This technique, proposed as ‘material microsurgery’, has the potential to transform waste materials into new hybrid surface coatings, which endows the base materials with superior properties to those seen in the source materials. For example, the SiC-nanowire-reinforced Cu layer added to steel in this study improved the hardness of the base material.

Nanocatalyzed PtNi Alloy Intact @3D Graphite Felt as an Effective Electrode for Super Power Redox Flow Battery

“…Here, a low intense peak was observed around 852.58 and 852.12 eV of Pt 0.5 Ni 1 @HT‐GF and Pt 1 Ni 1 @HT‐GF , respectively, which is attributed to metallic nickel phase (Ni 0 ). [ 25 ] The Ni 2p 3/2 high intense peak observed at 854.33, 855.48, and 856.30 eV represented the Ni 2+ intercalated with Pt metal and Ni 2+ ‐O x , respectively. Likewise, Ni 2p 1/2 peaks were observed at 872.84 and 873.24 eV, which can mention the Ni 2+ ‐Pt interaction and Ni 2+ ‐O x , respectively.…”

High-Yield Synthesis of SiC@SiO2 Core–Shell Nanowires on Graphite Substrates for Energy Applications

“…Chen et al used Ni as a catalyst to prepare SiC@SiO 2 NWs with high color purity of violet light . The utilization of metal catalysts (such as Co, Ni, Fe, and Cr) may have adverse effects on the purity and application potential of the synthesized materials in various fields. , In a typical preparation of SiC@SiO 2 NWs, C and Si sources are commonly mixed homogeneously and subjected to high temperatures, which leads to destruction of the SiO 2 layer during the subsequent purification process and affects the physical/chemical properties. , …”

“…18,19 In a typical preparation of SiC@SiO 2 NWs, C and Si sources are commonly mixed homogeneously and subjected to high temperatures, which leads to destruction of the SiO 2 layer during the subsequent purification process and affects the physical/chemical properties. 20,21 In addition, SiC@SiO 2 NWs can be prepared using SiC as a substrate. 18 For example, Qu et al prepared SiC@SiO 2 NWs by oxidizing SiC NWs in air at high temperatures (900−1200 °C) and found that SiC@SiO 2 NWs showed better thermal insulation properties than SiC NWs.…”