PROBLEM
As we all know that there has been a tremendous increase in usage of electronic devices such as smartphones, home appliances, laptops, wearable devices etc. on a daily basis. This increment in the use of electronic devices has led to the large accumulation of electronics waste which are not biodegradable.
A Survey carried out by United Nations Environment Program reported that almost 50 million tons of waste were piled up in 2017. The stats show that it was 20% higher than it was in 2015.
Stats also show that 89% of the young adults aged between 18 to 29 owns a smartphone and 30% of them upgrade their phone every 2 years.
United Nations Environment Programme has estimated that humans will generate more than 50 million metric tons of electronic waste by the end of 2018.
WHAT IS THE SOLUTION?????
Troubled by this accumulating waste, “Zhenan Bao” an engineer at Stanford University and her team came up with the solution of biodegradable electronic devices.
“THE TEAM AND I ARE TRYING TO MIMIC THE FUNCTION OF HUMAN SKIN SUCH AS STRETCHABLE, SELF-HEALING AND BIODEGRADABLE TO DEVELOP FUTURE ELECTRONIC DEVICES. WE HAVE ACHIEVED THE FIRST TWO PROPERTIES THAT ARE FLEXIBLE AND SELF-HEALING, SO WE ARE NOW LEFT WITH BIODEGRADABILITY TO TACKLE,” SAYS ZHENAN BAO.
The researchers created a flexible electronic device which degrades easily if we pour a weak acid like vinegar on it.
“This is the first example of a degradable semiconducting polymer, “ said Ting Lei, a postdoctoral fellow working with Zhenan Bao.
The team developed a degradable electronic circuit and a new biodegradable substrate material for mounting the electrical circuit.
The substrate supports the electrical components, flexing, and molding to rough and smooth surfaces alike. The whole device can biodegrade into nontoxic components when it is no longer required.
Previously Bao created a stretchable electrode modeled on human skin. The material could bend and twist in a way that would allow it to interface with the human skin or brain, but it was not degradable.
The Combination of the degradable polymer and the substrate makes the device useful in a large amount in different streams like from wearable electronic devices to large-scale environmental surveys.
According to Zhenan, “We envision these soft patches that can measure blood pressure, glucose, sweat content, then download the data.”
These devices have the potential to go far beyond collecting heart disease and glucose data. These components can be used to survey large areas in remote locations.
According to Lei, “The number of electronic devices increase, biodegradability will become more important. Currently, we have computers and cell phones and we generate millions and billions of cell phones, and it’s hard to decompose. He hopes to develop some materials that can be decomposed so there is less waste.”
This degradable technology will be ideal for storing confidential digital information that could be easily and quickly be destroyed and kept in private. It can be used for biological sensors, implantable medical devices, and even prosthetic skins.
These devices had been tested in proximity to heart cells from mice, and they didn’t die. However, the device is still not safe for us humans, so the application of these devices may be awhile away.
So, Now if the technique is implemented we will be able to degrade our electric waste too.
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