Recyclable printed electronics without using hazardous chemicals
April 20, 2023 – Researchers at Duke University have developed the first fully recyclable printed electronics using water instead of toxic chemicals in the fabrication process, in a breakthrough that could lead to a more environmentally friendly electronics industry. With the amount of discarded electronics ever-growing, their results show that a relatively complex device, here a thin-film transistor, can be completely printed in a process involving nothing but water.
Although the performance of their thin-film transistors is not yet on a par with the best currently in the market, they’re sufficiently viable to demonstrate the potential of such environmentally friendly processes. According to the researchers, the method could also be used in the production of other electronic components such as screens and displays. The team now hopes to improve the performance of their transistors.
