Proposal for Self-Degrading Power Cables Incorporating Graphitic Carbon Nitride to Address Electronic Waste Challenges and Evaluation of Decomposition Efficiencies

TL;DR

This paper proposes a self-degrading power cable coating using graphitic carbon nitride to help solve e-waste issues by enabling easier recycling.

Contribution

The novel contribution is the development of a urea-derived carbon nitride coating that shows superior photocatalytic decomposition efficiency compared to TiO2.

Findings

UCN achieved a 68% weight loss in PVC film after 40 days of irradiation.

UCN coating enabled copper wire separation through photodecomposition in water.

UCN improved material stiffness and tensile strength without affecting elongation or insulation.

Abstract

This study addresses challenges in recycling electronic waste (e-waste) by developing a self-degrading electrical wire coating material using graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4). Two types, melamine-derived carbon nitride (MCN) and urea-derived carbon nitride (UCN), were synthesized and evaluated for their photocatalytic activity by measuring the decolorization rate of rhodamine-B (RhB). UCN demonstrated superior photocatalytic performance compared to the widely used TiO2. When incorporated into PVC film, UCN achieved a maximum weight loss of 68% in photodegradation tests after 40 days of irradiation, contributing to reduced environmental impact. A UCN-mixed coating for a vinyl-insulated cable prototype showed that photodecomposition in water facilitated copper wire separation. The study also indicated that water is vital for the decomposition process, while UCN enhanced stiffness and tensile strength of the material without compromising elongation and electrical insulation properties.

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