Waste solar panels can be transformed into hydrogen and secondary battery materials by using a novel, low-temperature mechanochemical process that decomposes ammonia using silicon recovered from the panels. The silicon activates the ammonia to produce high-purity hydrogen gas and a high-value byproduct, silicon nitride , which can be used to improve the performance of secondary batteries, such as lithium-ion batteries.

Waste solar panels can be transformed into hydrogen and secondary battery materials by using a novel, low-temperature mechanochemical process that decomposes ammonia using silicon recovered from the panels. The silicon activates the ammonia to produce high-purity hydrogen gas and a high-value byproduct, silicon nitride , which can be used to improve the performance of secondary batteries, such as lithium-ion batteries. 
How the process works .

Low-temperature mechanochemical process:-
 The process operates at approximately 50°C 50 degrees cap C 50° 𝐶  and uses a ball mill to mix ammonia gas with finely powdered silicon.

Ammonia decomposition: -
 The mechanical action of the ball mill activates the silicon, which rapidly breaks down the ammonia (NH3 cap N cap H sub 3 𝑁𝐻 3) into nitrogen (N2 cap N sub 2 𝑁 2 ) and hydrogen (H2 cap H sub 2 𝐻2).

Byproduct formation: -
The nitrogen gas immediately reacts with the silicon to form silicon nitride
 (S i3N4cap S i sub 3 cap N sub              4 𝑆𝑖3𝑁4), which remains solid and doesn't escape as a gas.

Simultaneous production:-
 This process simultaneously generates:-
Pure hydrogen gas: -
The hydrogen produced is 100% pure and free from nitrogen or other impurities.

Silicon nitride: ,-
This is a valuable by product with applications in secondary batteries. 
Benefits of the process 

Sustainable recycling: -
It provides a way to recycle the silicon from end-of-life solar panels, turning waste into a valuable resource.

Energy efficiency: -
The process requires significantly less energy than traditional methods that operate at higher temperatures (up to 600°C 600 degrees cap C 600°𝐶  ) and involves costly purification steps.

Improved battery performance:-
 Silicon nitride (Si 3N4cap S i sub 3 cap N sub 4𝑆𝑖3 𝑁4) created by the process has been used in lithium-ion batteries, achieving high capacity and long cycle life (over 1,000 cycles with over 80% capacity retention).

Potential for the hydrogen
 economy: -
This method offers a solution for storing and transporting hydrogen in the form of ammonia and a low-energy way to produce high-purity hydrogen from it. 

MJF Lion ER YK Sharma 

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