Advancing Sustainable Printed Electronics

Advances in biobased substrates for printed devices show potential to improve sustainability in electronics.

Electronic device printing is a rapidly developing technology. Subsequently, recent advances in plastics engineering show promise for increased sustainability for these printed devices. As printed electronics become more commercialized, manufacturers using fossil-based printing substrates may intensify environmental concerns. Thus, researchers are investigating the integration of biopolymers in printed devices.

You can also read: Additive Manufacturing of Conductive Polymer Electronics.

Performance-Oriented Design

Printed electronics have high performance demands. When designing biobased polymers for this application, modification strategies can enhance their robustness. Blending biopolymers with nanofillers, chemical-crosslinking, plasticization, and plasma treatments can result in more effective materials. Copolymerization with conductive additives also has unique potential in devices such as sensors and energy storage systems.

Contact and non-contact-based printing, as well as additive manufacturing, are methods of fabricating printed electronic devices. Within contact-based printing, manufacturers employ various techniques, such as roll-to-roll and screen printing. Inkjet and aerosol jet printing are examples of non-contact-based methods. Each method requires special considerations for materials when transitioning to bio-based polymers. Research continues to optimize biopolymers for each of these use cases so they can better integrate into industrial printing methods. Researchers expect formulation and processing technique advancements to further improve their mechanical, thermal, and chemical robustness.

Substrates: Solid Supporting Materials in Electronic Devices

Electronic device substrates, such as dielectric and semiconducting layers, have significant potential for biobased polymer materials. Substrate decomposition rates strongly influence the degradation behavior of printed devices. Fossil-based polymers, therefore, slow degradation, but researchers are focusing on their substitution with biopolymers. Polylactic acid (PLA), cellulose, and cellulose derivatives, as well as composites, are potential biobased substrate materials for printed electronics.

Conductors and Semiconductors: Conductive Additives from Renewable Feedstocks

3D-printed conductive polymers are another area of focus for sustainable material researchers. Traditional conducting fillers are comprised of fossil-based products. Lignin, cellulose, starch, biochar, and bio-graphite offer alternative materials. Research has shown the potential of lignin-based graphene and carbon nanotubes in printed electronic requiring high electrical conductivity. Biochar has also exhibited growth in printed electronics in biodegradable polymers such as energy storage devices and supercapacitors.

Transitioning to Green Electronics

Though biobased printed electronics have major potential for sustainability, researchers face challenges at an industrial scale. Current limitations include economic viability as well as mechanical strength. Bio-derived polymers are typically highly hydrophilic. Because of this, moisture can cause swelling and structural degradations. Nevertheless, these polymers show significant benefits for sustainability. Biopolymers have unlimited availability and can be non-toxic and biodegradable. Waste management is also a concern for researchers, causing calls for alternative management strategies.