“Leaftronics” offers a green solution for e-waste.

In a groundbreaking development, scientists have devised a way to replace conventional printed circuit boards (PCBs) with biodegradable alternatives made from tree leaves. Published in Science Advances, this innovation, dubbed "leaftronics," could significantly reduce the tens of millions of tons of electronic waste (e-waste) generated annually.

E-waste is a growing problem, with 62 million tons produced globally in 2022 alone - a figure projected to rise by over 30% until 2030, according to World Bank data. PCBs, which account for up to 60% of e-waste by weight, are typically made from unrecyclable materials like fiberglass and epoxy.

More to read:
Startup builds a revolutionary mouthwear to control phones and computers

The issue, according to lead author Rakesh Nair, a postdoctoral researcher and engineer at the Dresden University of Technology’s Institute for Applied Physics, stems from the disposable design of modern electronics. “We can easily make electronics that last 10, 20, or even 30 years, but we deliberately make them so that you buy the new model,” he explained in a press release.

While most green electronics research focuses on replacing rare materials in circuitry, the Dresden scientists tackled the PCB itself.

Looking for an eco-friendly alternative, Nair and his team considered paper for circuit boards but dismissed the idea due to the high water and pollutant requirements of paper production. Inspiration struck while observing a magnolia tree near his lab - its leaves offered a natural, biodegradable solution.

Leaves gain their strength from lignocellulose, a woody network of fine veins. Nair’s team stripped magnolia leaves down to their lignocellulose skeletons, then filled the voids with ethyl cellulose, a durable biodegradable polymer. These leaf-based boards withstood laser cutting, circuit printing with silver inks, and soldering.

More to read:
Anthropic’s latest AI model can control users’ computers

In one test, the team even created organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) on a leaf, successfully illuminating their "leaftronic."

Beyond functionality, leaftronics are environmentally friendly. The boards begin degrading within a month in compost and can be stripped of valuable metals through an ultrasonic acid bath.

They also produce fewer emissions during manufacturing compared to traditional PCBs. Nair envisions sustainable facilities pairing electronics production with tree farming to ensure a closed-loop process - harvesting leaves, recycling circuitry, and composting degraded boards for fuel.

More to read:
New brain cap enables mind-controlled video gaming

However, convincing manufacturers to adopt leaftronics will be a major challenge. It’s true that the materials performed well in lab tests, but they may not meet stringent industry standards for durability, for example. Another problem is convincing regulators to adjust requirements slightly to accommodate biodegradable alternatives.

Not least important is the appeal of leaftronics to customers, who might prioritize sustainability over perfection or environmental concerns.

Time will show whether this valuable innovation was worth its discovery.

***
NewsCafe relies in its reporting on research papers that need to be cracked down to average understanding. Some even need to be paid for. You can support us via PayPal: office[at]rudeana.com or paypal.me/newscafeeu, or https://buymeacoffee.com/newscafe . Any amount is welcome.