About this Abstract |
| Meeting |
2026 TMS Annual Meeting & Exhibition
|
| Symposium
|
Fundamentals of Sustainable Metallurgy and Processing of Materials
|
| Presentation Title |
From EV waste to resource: a nanoscale pathway to circular copper use |
| Author(s) |
Raymond Kwesi Nutor |
| On-Site Speaker (Planned) |
Raymond Kwesi Nutor |
| Abstract Scope |
As the clean energy transition speeds up, copper remains an essential resource for electrification. However, with primary ores yielding less than 1% Cu, mining alone cannot satisfy future demand. Recycling provides a lower-carbon alternative, reducing emissions by up to 65%, but its use in advanced systems is limited by impurity-driven conductivity loss. This work presents a recycling approach for Cu sourced from EV batteries, enabling circular reuse without sacrificing performance. Using nanoscale analysis methods such as APT and TEM, we explore the role of impurities, offering new insights into the mechanical and electrical properties of circular Cu. |
| Proceedings Inclusion? |
Planned: |
| Keywords |
Recycling and Secondary Recovery, Copper / Nickel / Cobalt, Sustainability |