PCBs are typically made of plastic or fiberglass with epoxy, and are difficult to recycle or reuse. Tens of millions of tons of electronic waste are dumped annually, and the figure is expected to grow 30% by 2030, Rakesh Nair, a postdoctoral researcher and engineer with the Institute for Applied Physics at TU Dresden, who lead the research, told Science.
Nair and his colleagues aim to address this waste by swapping the plastic circuit board backing with a biodegradable material sourced from leaves. The team created a prototype by injecting ethyl cellulose into the leaf’s “skeleton” to create a panel capable of being cut with lasers and supporting printed circuits. They call the concept “leaftronics.”
Nair envisions one day colocating electronics manufacturing, recycling plants and tree farms. “Nothing is wasted,” he added.