recyclable

Water and electronics don't usually mix, but as it turns out, batteries could benefit from some H2O.By replacing the hazardous chemical electrolytes used in commercial batteries with water, scientists have developed a recyclable 'water battery' – and solved key issues with the emerging technology, which could be a safer and greener alternative.'Water batteries' are formally known as aqueous metal-ion batteries. These devices use metals such as magnesium or zinc, which are cheaper to assemble and less toxic than the…

Researchers have developed innovative ‘water batteries’ that offer a safe, recyclable alternative to lithium-ion batteries for large-scale energy storage. These aqueous metal-ion batteries use water instead of flammable electrolytes, preventing fire hazards. Their sustainable design facilitates easy disassembly for material reuse or recycling. Significant advancements include overcoming dendrite growth, extending battery lifespan, and achieving competitive energy densities with potential applications in grid storage and…

We previously knew Vision Marine Technologies primarily as the Quebecois company that debuted the once-most powerful electric outboard in the world, the propulsion behind one of the world's fastest, most hellacious e-boats. At this year's Miami boat show, Vision pulled the throttle back a bit and launched a humbler product that still promises to leave water and land a little cleaner. The all-new Phantom is a rotomolded plastic boat that's tough enough to last a generation and ready to be recycled at lifecycle's end … up…

Because they're made of vulcanized rubber, old tires can't simply be melted down and used to make new tires. Such is reportedly not the case, however, with new rubber-free tires made from eco-friendly elastomers.Although conventional tires can be recycled, they're typically ground into rubber crumbs that are utilized in materials such as asphalt. Since the vulcanization process is not reversible, using them in the production of new tires generally isn't an option.That's where Norwegian company reTyre comes in.It has…

Denmark’s largest offshore wind farm to date will feature recyclable wind turbine blades made by Siemens Gamesa. In 2022, renewable energy giant RWE became the first commercial, large-scale offshore developer to install Siemens Gamesa’s recyclable wind turbine blade technology, RecyclableBlade, at its Kaskasi offshore wind farm in Germany. (The blades pictured above are at Kaskasi.) RecyclableBlades will also be installed on 44 out of 100 turbines at the Sofia wind farm, which RWE is building…

An artistic depiction of the new process that allows printers to create fully functioning, fully recyclable transistors using only water instead of harsh chemicals. Credit: Ella Maru StudiosThe first-of-a-kind demonstration indicates that a greener future for the electronics sector is possible.Duke University engineers have created the world’s first printed electronics that can be fully recycled. Their innovative solution replaces the use of harmful chemicals with water during the fabrication process, thereby reducing the…

The world is direly addicted to plastics. Try as we might to recycle them, plastics are cheaper to make anew, so unthinkable amounts of plastic waste are dumped into landfill and are clogging up our oceans.From all the new plastics ever made, over 6 billion metric tons of plastic waste (that doesn't decompose but only breaks up into smaller and small pieces) has been generated, with less than 10 percent recycled thus far.Not only is manufacturing new plastics incredibly wasteful, but it uses starter materials derived…

MingYang Smart Energy has launched a huge turbine blade made of over 95% recyclable materials – the first of its kind in Asia. MingYang says it’s the “first Chinese OEM to offer recyclable blades.” Spanish-German maker Siemens Gamesa and Danish company Vestas have also launched wind turbine blade recycling schemes. The 75.7-meter-long (248-foot-long) prototype recyclable blade was made using Taiwan-headquartered wind power material supplier Swancor’s EzCiclo recyclable thermosetting resin.…

Engineers at ETH Zurich have developed a versatile new material that should help in the ongoing battle against corrosion for buildings and vehicles. The polymer coating not only protects against corrosion, but highlights cracks as they form, automatically repairs damage to itself, and can be recycled at the end of its life.Corrosion will eventually affect pretty much everything humans build, from skyscrapers and bridges to planes, trains and automobiles. Developing new corrosion-resistant materials and coatings is a…

The new biodegradable polyester, due to its excellent chemical and biological degradation abilities and its impressive mechanical properties, has the potential to be used as a sustainable and environmentally friendly thermoplastic material that can be easily recycled.A biodegradable polyester has been developed with properties comparable to those of high-density polyethylene.Polyethylene is known for its many advantageous properties, but its lack of biodegradability has been a challenge. However, a team of researchers has…