We report the use of face mask materials as a carbon precursor for the synthesis of multi- and single-walled carbon nanotubes (CNTs) in an open-loop chemical recycling process. Novel surgical mask precursors were suspended in toluene and injected into a chemical vapor deposition reactor previously optimized for CNT production using liquid injection. The CNTs were collected and characterized using resonant Raman spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) before being turned into fibrils that were tested for electrical conductance. Once confirmed and repeated for statistical accuracy, a CNT-based Ethernet cable was manufactured and tested using iPerf3 for uplink and downlink speeds exceeding broadband standards worldwide. Radial breathing modes from Raman spectroscopy indicate single walled CNTs (SWCNTs) with diameters ranging from 0.8 to 1.55 nm and this matches well with TEM observations of SWCNTs with 1.5 nm diameter. This work pushes the horizon of feedstocks useful for CNT and SWCNT production in particular; this work demonstrates upcycling of materials fated for disposal into materials with positive net value and plenty of real-world applications.

    Abstract
    1 Introduction
    2 Experimental section
        2.1 Materials
        2.2 CNT characterization
        2.3 Preparation and testing the CNT Ethernet cable
    3 Results and discussion
        3.1 CNT characterization
        3.2 CNT Ethernet cable
        3.3 Global energy considerations
    4 Conclusions
    Acknowledgements 
    References

• Varun Shenoy Gangoli(Energy Safety Research Institute, Swansea University Bay Campus, Department of Chemical Engineering, Swansea University Bay Campus)
• Thomas Mahy(Energy Safety Research Institute, Swansea University Bay Campus)
• Tim Yick(Energy Safety Research Institute, Swansea University Bay Campus)
• Yubiao Niu(Nanomaterials Lab, Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Swansea University, Bay Campus)
• Richard E. Palmer(Nanomaterials Lab, Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Swansea University, Bay Campus)
• Alvin Orbaek White(Energy Safety Research Institute, Swansea University Bay Campus, Department of Chemical Engineering, Swansea University Bay Campus)