Synthesis of silicon carbide nanocrystals from waste polytetrafluoroethylene.

Resource utilization of waste plastic could solve the problem of environmental pollution and simultaneously relieve energy shortages, achieving sustainable development. In this study, the conversion of waste polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) to cubic silicon carbide (SiC) nanoparticles has been described. The structures and morphologies of the obtained SiC were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Furthermore, the FTIR spectrum of the obtained SiC sample suggests that the waste PTFE was completely converted into SiC in our approach.