Nanotechnology-Enhanced Disassembly and Reuse of Metals in Electronic Devices

Advances in technology have led to an exponentially growing volume of electronic waste (e-waste), which has become an alarming environmental issue for which traditional recycling methods are inadequate to handle. One of the most promising solutions for streamlining metal extraction from e-waste is nanotechnology-enhanced disassembly and reuse. In this paper, we review current practices in e-waste management and their limitations, current nanotechnologies and their potential application to disassembly, design strategies that include nanomaterials for controlled disassembly and efficient metal recovery, and the environmental and economic benefits of these approaches. We discuss the challenges and future research directions for fully realizing the potential of nanotechnology for sustainable e-waste management.