Upcycling waste ITO powders through integrated leaching enhancement and selective deposition

This study introduces an efficient room-temperature electrochemical method for recycling indium (In) and tin (Sn) from waste indium tin oxide (ITO, The ratio of indium oxide to tin oxide is approximately 9:1) powder, addressing the limitations of conventional high-energy and environmentally harmful techniques. In hydrochloric acid solution, ITO powder is dissolved at an accelerated rate under the action of current, so that metal ions are dissolved at the anode and migrates to the cathode for reduction reaction. This process achieves the enhanced leaching of In and Sn ions, as well as selective reduction at the cathode, through electrolysis in hydrochloric acid, without the need for high temperatures or carbon emissions. Through the optimization of electrolysis parameters, the dissolution rate of the ITO anode and the cathodic current efficiency have been significantly improved, with removal rates for the primary impurities Fe, Al, and Si reaching 90.01 %, 79.53 %, and 69.76 %, respectively. This method presents a highly promising pathway for upcycling waste ITO powder, aligning with sustainable development goals and reducing reliance on resource-intensive methods.