Nonvolatile RRAM cells from polymeric composites embedding recycled SiC powders

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Polymer Science

Background:

• Silicon carbide (SiC) is a crucial material in electronics.
• Tire waste presents a significant environmental challenge.
• Recycling processes can recover valuable materials from waste.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize silicon carbide (SiC) powders from end-of-life tires.
• To investigate the properties of SiC powders and their derived composite structures.
• To evaluate the potential of SiC-polymer composites in electronic memory devices.

Main Methods:

• Patented recycling process for SiC powder synthesis.
• Characterization using Dynamic Light Scattering, Raman Spectroscopy, SEM, and X-ray Diffraction.
• Fabrication and testing of two-terminal polymer composite devices with coplanar contacts.

Main Results:

• Successfully synthesized SiC powders from recycled tires.
• Characterization confirmed powder properties and composite structure.
• Demonstrated resistive switching behavior in PMMA-based composite devices.
• Quantified memory effect through read-write-erase measurements, showing distinct level separation and persistence.

Conclusions:

• Recycled SiC powders from tires are viable for electronic applications.
• PMMA-SiC composites exhibit a promising memory effect.
• This research offers a sustainable route for electronic materials and waste valorization.