The cellulose structure of ordinary plant leaves in Leaftronics can withstand high temperatures and serve as the basis for biodegradable microchips after certain treatments.
The research team led by Professor Carl Leo from the Dresden University of Technology TUD has developed a nature-inspired solution that could change the production of electronics. The Leaftronics project utilizes the natural structure of leaves to create biodegradable electronic components.
Typically, epoxy resin reinforced with fiberglass is used to manufacture conventional printed circuit boards. These materials are not recyclable and do not biodegrade. Considering the massive volume of electronic waste accumulating at a rate of over 60 million tons per year, there is an urgent need for an alternative.
Previous research focused on creating biodegradable natural polymers. This approach encountered problems with temperature and chemical stability. There is a fundamental conflict between the ability to biodegrade, which requires weak molecular bonds, and thermal and chemical stability, which requires the opposite.
“This research demonstrates that lignocellulose frameworks derived from leaves can stabilize polymers made from bio-sources, treated with a solution, acting as natural constraining environments. Such reinforced films, even based on gelatin (Tg ~60°C), can withstand processes above 200°C. We demonstrate ethyl cellulose films coated by dipping method for commercially viable soldered circuits. The films provide high flexibility, transparency over 80%, and surface roughness less than 5.5 nm,” states the research abstract.
The research team has made a significant step forward in resolving this conflict. Leaftronics uses the natural structure of leaves to create biodegradable electronics. They offer a sustainable, efficient, and scalable solution to the global problem of electronic waste. The breakthrough occurred thanks to the discovery that natural leaf frameworks, which serve as scaffolding for living cells, can be adapted to reinforce biodegradable polymer films treated with a solution.
“We were surprised to find that these natural frameworks not only support living cells but can also hold together polymers that are processed in solution, even at relatively high temperatures when these polymers should flow,” explains Dr. Hans Klimann, head of the “Organic Devices and Systems” group at the Institute of Applied Physics.
Researchers have demonstrated that lignocellulose-reinforced polymer films can withstand the microchip manufacturing process and be used in state-of-the-art thin-film devices, such as OLED panels. The smoothness of the films, a key requirement for depositing ultra-thin layers of materials, opens the door to manufacturing high-performance thin-film electronics on similar substrates.
“We see that the embedded natural quasi-fractal structure appears to thermomechanically stabilize the polymer films without harming their ability to biodegrade,” says Dr. Rakesh R. Nair, whose work underpins the research.
Leaftronics substrates have a carbon footprint three times lower than paper. After devices reach the end of their lifecycle, the substrates can be easily decomposed in soil or processed at biogas plants, with the extraction of electronic components and valuable materials from the circuits. The research is published in the journal Science Advances.
Source: TechXplore
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