Today's Tech News: Notable or Not?

https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1119571 "no: external catalysts, heat, light... modification creates new class of fully recyclable polymers... polyethylene analogs manufactured, used, converted back into their original building blocks—enabling closed-loop chemical recycling... sulfur-sulfur bonds fundamental to peptide/ protein structure, so discovery provides a new tool for biologists to manipulate protein structures without damaging sensitive biological components... selectively modifies anti-tumor compound calicheamicin"

https://cen.acs.org/environment/recycling/silicon-carbide-nanowires-waste-glass/104/web/2026/03 "fluorine-assisted flash Joule heating: gtrind glass, carbon black, sodium fluoride, pack into tube, apply strong electric current, heat to 2,000°C (in seconds), carbon reduces silica, producing silicon carbide nanowires... fluorine keeps iron particles active as catalysts enabling growth of wire-shaped nanostructures instead of particles... up to 96% lower energy/ emissions, $0.90/ kg (99% cheaper}... plastic/ cement reinforcement, electronic/ energy devices... also: boron/ titanium/ niobium carbide nanowires"

https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1104099 "restores original cathode material for reuse... ternary molten salt (heated: lithium hydroxide, lithium nitrate, lithium salicylate)... high-nickel NCM811 loses lithium/ develops structural defects, restored moving lithium ions into damaged material/ reorganizes atoms to original ordered layered structure/ unwanted surface rock salt layer removed... achieves 196 mAh/g initial discharge capacity, maintains 76% of that capacity after 200 cycles... operates at relatively low temperatures, no: strong acids/ toxic solvents" Related: New recharge-to-recycle reactor turns battery waste into new lithium feedstock https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1105397 How battery charging led to a breakthrough in lithium recycling https://newatlas.com/energy/battery-charging-lithium-recycling/ 3-in-1 process recycles spent lithium batteries, captures CO₂ and generates catalysts at room temperature https://techxplore.com/news/2026-01-recycles...

https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1079909 "3D-printable designs already exist, but now get broad spectrum of colors/ gradients... waste plastics quantified after processing for spectral reflectance, then Kubelka-Munk theory provides initial estimated color mixing... Nelder-Mead method gave optimal balance between precision of color differences and RMS, essential for producing high-quality colors... MyMiniFactory users saved >$4 million in 1 month making toys themselves... $250 desktop 3D printer earns 100% ROI making own, more if use recycled plastic" Related: Enhancing the sustainability of plastics using sulfur waste https://phys.org/news/2025-04-sustainability-plastics-sulfur.html Chemically unzipping plastic's its molecular chains at room temperature during recycling https://oilprice.com/Energy/Energy-General/Tech-Breakthrough-Could-Upend-the-650-Billion-Plastics-Market.html New approach to plastic recycling by Worcester Polytechnic Institute Chemical Engine...

https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1075681 "could provide around 16% of nickel needed by 2030, but even greater impact can be achieved by upcycling nickel together with upcycling alumina from used aluminium foil into high-performance nanocatalyst in an eco-friendly way... nanocatalyst consists of 92-96% aluminium oxide and 4-8% nickel, optimal for converting CO2 together with hydrogen into methane at atmospheric pressure and an easily achievable temperature of 250°C" Related: A new method to recycle fluoride from long-lived PFAS chemicals https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1077959 Carbon-free, energy-saving method to extract nickel for batteries and stainless steel https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1082313 Altilium claim breakthrough in UKBIC-made EV battery cells using recycled CAM https://www.bestmag.co.uk/altilium-claim-breakthrough-in-ukbic-made-ev-battery-cells-using-recycled-cam/ TU Vienna Turns Battery Waste into a Clean Energy Catalyst https://opent...

https://techxplore.com/news/2025-01-door-derived-redox-batteries.html "1-pot reaction of waste into energy-storing molecule... electrons pack tightly together without losing losing negligible capacity after >350 cycles... first instance of utilizing phosphine oxides as the redox-active component in battery research... raditionally, reduced phosphine oxides are highly unstable, now overcome with molecular engineering, paving the way for their application in energy storage"

https://www.environmentenergyleader.com/stories/battery-breakthrough-turning-food-waste-into-energy-storage,53430 "prototype single-layer pouch cell utilizing artaric/ malic acid electrodes... addresses both sustainability and economic considerations... also applies to sodium-ion batteries... enhances battery energy storage, ionic conductivity, and structural stability, enabling diverse applications ranging from micro-batteries, which power medical technologies, to large-scale batteries designed for trucks and industrial applications" Related: Dry-Powder Breakthrough Boosts Stability and Sustainability of Sodium-Ion Batteries https://aps.unc.edu/home-page-news-item/dry-powder-breakthrough-boosts-stability-and-sustainability-of-sodium-ion-batteries/

https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1063611 "thermoplastic base material polylactic acid produced from sugar cane or corn... copolymers formed during production facilitates mixing forming stable (stereo)-crystalline layers at interfaces... 50% blends polylactic acid/ polyvinylidene fluoride... 200–300 nm thick stereocomplex crystals layer at interfaces, increasing stability/ crystallisation temperature... nucleation at interface accelerates crystallisation... elongation at break increases up to 250 %... high-performance polymer blends" Related: Light-triggered process breaks down polymers into monomers for easier recycling https://phys.org/news/2025-02-triggered-polymers-monomers-easier-recycling.html#google_vignette Recycling products from the inside out: Scientists tackle plastic pollution https://phys.org/news/2025-03-recycling-products-scientists-tackle-plastic.html#google_vignette Engineered E. coli could be used to produce biodegradable plastics https://phys.org/ne...

https://techxplore.com/news/2024-08-substrate-material-flexible-electronics-combat.html "flexible substrate enables scalable complex multilayered circuits' manufacture... form of polyimide polymer cures in seconds with UV, at room temperature... multilayered circuits' substrate... recyclability: ester subunits introduced into polymer's backbone rapidly dissolve away using alcohol/ catalyst solution, where circuits' precious metals, rare earth minerals, entire microchips, recovered... break polymer back into original small molecules" Related: Sustainable metal-recycling method reduces cost and greenhouse gas emissions https://phys.org/news/2024-09-sustainable-metal-recycling-method-greenhouse.html Better ways to recover metals needed for technology from electronic waste could benefit the environment and human health https://theconversation.com/better-ways-to-recover-metals-needed-for-technology-from-electronic-waste-could-benefit-the-environment-and-human-healt...

https://techxplore.com/news/2024-08-technology-energy-device-incurred-generating.html "self-heals mechanical damage caused by continuous friction... recyclable/ decomposed with microorganisms... imidazolium ions for self-healing/ high electro-positive properties, and polycaprolactone-based polyurethane... 436.8 mW/m2 power density, 90% self-healing efficiency,.. recycling: 21% initial mass remains >300 days biodegradation... soft electronics, wearables... future: commercialization" Related: Researchers solve long-standing challenge for piezoelectric materials https://phys.org/news/2024-08-piezoelectric-materials.html Charge your phone just by moving your body https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1065602 Red-sea-star-inspired polyurethane enables rapid underwater self-healing https://phys.org/news/2025-05-red-sea-star-polyurethane-enables.html Skin-like electronic material created by researchers https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1088649 Will wearables get smarter...

https://techxplore.com/news/2024-07-recycled-micro-sized-silicon-anodes.html "high-energy-density batteries... significant volume expansion during charge-discharge cycles overcome...  anodes stable, 99.94% average coulombic efficiency, retaining 83.13% initial capacity after 200 cycles... ether-based dual-layer solid-electrolyte interphase, composed of 3 M LiPF6 dissolved in 1:3 volume ratio of 1,3-dioxane and 1,2-diethoxyethane, flexible yet robust, holds together fractured silicon particles, improvs ionic conduction, minimizes side reactions... survived 80 cycles, 340.7 Wh kg-1 energy density" Related: Sionic Energy Unveils 100-Percent Silicon Anode (graphite alternative) Battery https://spectrum.ieee.org/silicon-anode-battery-2670396855 Recycling lithium-ion batteries to recover their critical metals has significantly lower environmental impacts than mining https://news.stanford.edu/stories/2025/01/recycling-lithium-ion-batteries-cuts-emissions-and-strengthens-supply-chain...

https://phys.org/news/2024-07-decomposing-refrigerants-potent-greenhouse-gas.html "99% efficient HFC-134a refrigerant decomposition... >200K tons high alkaline red mud produced annually. containing water/ soil polluting oxides of silicon, heavy metals... heating induces iron/ aluminum interact stably decomposing refrigerants at low temperatures, minimal pollutant generation... heated inducing interactions forming tricalcium aluminate and gehlenite composite, increasing reaction surface area strengthening binding,.. also forms calcium fluoride thin film surface, protecting catalyst" Related: Tamed molecules for more sustainable catalysts: Chemists succeed in synthesizing a spectacular gallium compound https://phys.org/news/2024-09-molecules-sustainable-catalysts-chemists-succeed.html Experimental membrane captures more than 99% of aluminum ions from waste https://techxplore.com/news/2025-01-experimental-membrane-captures-aluminum-ions.html Research yields eco-friendly way t...

https://phys.org/news/2024-07-styrofoam-polymers-electronics.html "PEDOT:PSS has both electronic, ionic conductivity... sulfonating polystyrene using reagent efficient enough but doesn't mess up polymer chain... 1,3-Disulfonic acid imidazolium chloride... high polymer sulfonation, minimal defects, high efficiency, all while using eco-friendly mild sulfonating agent... varying stoichiometric ratios of starting materials during reaction changing degree of sulfonation,.. upscale into electronic devices including silicon-based hybrid solar cells, organic electrochemical transistors"

https://phys.org/news/2024-05-cheap-dirty-leftovers-pure-oxygen.html "store/ release pure oxygen faster, at lower temperatures, using cheaper materials needing less maintenance... hexagonal manganites (no need for larger surface area nanomaterials)... neither pure (5 to 6 different rare earths) nor have well-ordered crystal structure, OK as disorder itself provides rapid oxygen absorption...  sources of hexagonal manganites: oxides of recycled rare earth metals or low-quality ore, also possibly waste materials from the production of electric motors" Related:  Microwave-induced pyrolysis breaks down plastic coating of PVC wiring to get copper, and chlorine recyclable into hydrochloric acid and carbon black https://www.thecooldown.com/green-tech/microwave-recycling-old-cords-plastic-wire/

https://www.nrel.gov/news/press/2024/nrel-proof-of-concept-shows-path-to-easier-recycling-of-solar-modules.html "femtosecond laser welds edges of glass together, forming glass-to-glass welds for solar modules makes panels easier to recycle, eliminating need for plastic polymer sheets that make recycling more difficult... can be used on any type of solar technology—silicon, perovskites, cadmium telluride... such femtosecond laser  glass/glass welds as strong as glass itself... superior strength with hermetic sealing, low cost... extend the life of solar modules to beyond 50 years and to allow easier recycling" Related: Dead solar panels get a greener 2nd life with saltwater solution: Study https://interestingengineering.com/energy/solar-panel-recycling-etching-method?utm Solar panels recycled with 99% efficiency without toxic chemicals in Italy https://interestingengineering.com/energy/solar-panel-recycling-9tech New recycling process can recover up to 99.97% of materials in p...

https://techxplore.com/news/2024-03-chips.html "microstructures including their properties fabricated on metal surfaces... EV-chiseling cutting method's feeding direction generates metallic microstructures with ultra-high aspect ratio making them slightly larger and easier to work with... manufacturing cutting chips usually turned into waste after processing. but now useful by changing processing parameters producing various kinds of microstructures transformed directly through the chips: enhanced heat transfer, hydrophobicity, (anti-icing), antibacterial"

https://techxplore.com/news/2024-02-electrochemical-enables-efficient-metal-recovery.html "integrates transient electric field (kinetic electrodeposition coefficients 3.5−4.3X better than TE alone) and swirling flow (1.37−1.97X better than SF alone) improving mass transfer and promoting interfacial ion transport simultaneously... copper recovery achieved with low and high electric levels of 0 and 4 V, 50% duty cycle, 1 kHz frequency, and 400 L/h flow rate... recovers with homogeneous compositions and uniform morphologies with redox potentials higher than those of hydrogen evolution and water reduction" Related: KIST develops next-generation materials for integrated solutions to water treatment challenges https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1085340

https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1029523 "works for >90% of silicon cells including containing boron, oxygen, defects and other impurities... intense light and controlled temperature applied excite molecules changing arrangement and patching up holes caused by light and heat damage... performance... prevent and minimize further degradation for up to 5 years... deployed on-site... also provides fully automated solar panel recycling recovering resources like silicon" Related: Beyond Recycling: Reducing Waste from Solar Modules Before They’re Even Made https://www.energy.gov/eere/solar/articles/beyond-recycling-reducing-waste-solar-modules-theyre-even-made Proof of concept study shows path to easier recycling of solar modules https://techxplore.com/news/2024-04-proof-concept-path-easier-recycling.html Trina unveils world’s first fully recycled silicon solar module https://onestepoffthegrid.com.au/trina-unveils-worlds-first-fully-recycled-silicon-solar-module/ New glob...

https://phys.org/news/2023-10-scientists-recycling-plastics.html "requires 94% less energy and 96% less fossil fuel... works for >30% of all plastics including composites and multilayer packaging... synthetic organocatalyst deconstructs at different temperatures: Polycarbonates at 266° F, polyurethanes at 320° F, polyethylene terephthalates at 356° F and polyamides at 410° F... works in 2 hours... other plastics, additives and associated materials such as cotton and plastic bags left intact and subsequently recovered... filtration removes impurities (pigments), then monomers, then catalyst, reused" Related: Scientists create artificial protein capable of degrading microplastics in bottles https://phys.org/news/2023-10-scientists-artificial-protein-capable-degrading.html Scientists find hundreds of toxic chemicals in recycled plastics https://phys.org/news/2023-11-scientists-hundreds-toxic-chemicals-recycled.html Polyethylene waste could be a thing of the past https://phys....

https://phys.org/news/2023-08-quantum-materials-room-temperature.html "reuse cathodes up to 90% capacity... added organic-based zwitterionic polymers to change its properties. They created a battery by sandwiching their new electrolyte between an anode made of lithium metal and cathodes made of different materials—lithium iron, phosphate, nickel, cobalt and manganese... polymer in the electrolyte allows the entire electrolyte to melt at 100° C. Once the electrolyte is melted, the battery can be very easily disassembled... high conductivity at temperatures up to 45° C" Related: Our Next Energy touts advancements in lithium iron phosphate battery technology https://techxplore.com/news/2023-08-energy-touts-advancements-lithium-iron.html Researchers develop framework to guide electrolyte design for advanced batteries https://phys.org/news/2023-08-framework-electrolyte-advanced-batteries.html A new electrolyte to make better lithium-ion batteries https://techxplore.com/news/2023-0...