Bioavailable displays for stable electronics

In the coming years, with the increasing use of electronic devices in consumables and new technologies for the Internet of Things, they will increase electronic waste. To save resources and reduce waste, eco-friendly production and a more sustainable life cycle will be required. Scientists at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) are now the first to make demonstrations, which examined bioethics and validated by an independent office. The results are reported in the Journal of Materials Chemistry. (DOI: 10.1039 / d0tc04627b)

“For the first time, we have proven that it is possible to produce sustainable displays based largely on natural products with the help of industry-relevant production methods. Once used, there is no electronic waste. in these demonstrations, but the fertilizer can be recycled and reused, this could help reduce or prevent some of the environmental impacts of electronic waste, “said Manuel Pietsch, first published author and researcher of the KIT Institute of Light Technology (LTI), based at Heidelberg InnovationLab.

The activity of the display is based on the electrochromic effect known as the first organic material. When a voltage is applied, light is absorbed and the material changes color. Electrochromic displays have low energy consumption and simple component architecture compared to commercially available displays, such as LED, LCD, and E-paper. Another advantage is that these displays can be produced by inkjet printing in a standard, inexpensive, and material-efficient manner. In addition, this process is suitable for scaling with high throughput. The materials used are mostly of natural or biodegradable origin. A seal with gelatine makes the display adhesive and supple, so that it can be worn directly on the skin.

The display is generally suitable for short lifecycle applications in several categories. In medical epidemiology, for example, where hygiene plays an important role, sensors and their symptoms must be cleansed or disposed of after use. The newly developed display will not be dumped as electronic waste, but is easy to circulate. It can also be used for quality inspection in food packaging, where reuse is not allowed. Digital printing allows the displays to be transformed into complex people or shapes without any costly modification of the process. This reduces resource consumption.

“As far as we know, this is the first demonstration of a bio-accessible display produced by inkjet printing. It will be a means of sustainable innovations for other electronic components and to making eco-friendly electronics, ”said Gerardo Hernandez-Sosa, Head of LTI Print Electronics Group at Heidelberg InnovationLab.

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Manuel Pietsch, Stefan Schlisske, Martin Held, Noah Strobel, Alexander Wieczorek, Gerardo Hernandez-Sosa: A biodegradable inkjet printed electrochromic display for stable lifecycle electronics. Journal of Materials Chemistry, DOI: 10.1039 / d0tc04627b

https: //pubs.rsc.org /en /content /articlelanding /2020 /TC /D0TC04627B #! DivAbstract

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