CAPSTONE DESIGN PARTICIPANTS
Adnan Fakhouri, Liam Hawkins,Yazan Qudsi , Mustapha Syed
Trees to Electric Leaves (T2EL)
19
In a world that thrives on electronic devices, the positive impacts to humanity can not be understated , however the growing issue of electronic waste (E-waste) can not be ignored. The design proposes substituting the primary components of a printed circuit boards (PCBs) to an organic system, which improves the overall electronic sustainability by increasing the recyclability of each component. Implementing novel conductive materials to print circuits onto renewable and flexible nanocellulose paper, a sustainable printed circuit boards can be acheived. These printed circuit boards can then be used for flexible and wearable electronics.
Consultant: Dr. Leonardo Simon
Houfu Chen, Lihe Hu, Yixuan Jiao, Saad Shan,
Recovering Cobalt from Lithium-Ion Battery Waste Solutions Using a Mesoporous Silica Nanoconjugate Material
20
Lithium-ion batteries have become a major component of our daily lives due to their extensive usage in consumer electronics and electric vehicles. These batteries use cobalt as the primary cathode material, a rare earth metal that is difficult to mine and is concentrated in a handful of global locations. Our product uses surface-modified nanoparticles combined with organic ligands to extract cobalt from battery leach solution. The final compound will be highly specific towards cobalt, be capable of multiple uses and allow for cobalt repurposing in multiple industries, all while tackling a critical social and environmental problem.
Consultant: Dr. Mark Pritzker
Caleb Davis, Cameron Dean, Etido Thompson
Enhancing High-Capacity Si-Anodes for Li-Ion Batteries
21
Our FYDP strives to improve the typical anodes of lithium-ion batteries. Instead of the commonly used graphite material, our group uses silicon nanoparticles to store Li-ions when the battery is charged. Silicon’s higher capacity enables batteries that address the need for improved electric vehicle drive range. Generally, silicon batteries degrade due to high volume fluctuations. However, our anode provides space for expansion by encapsulating silicon nanoparticles within graphene shells, thereby preventing damage to the electrode. Furthermore, carbon nanotubes are used within our electrode to form a strong, conductive network that improves the cell’s efficiency and rate performance.
Consultant: Dr. Michael Pope