03-Sep-2021 | Market Research Store
The America Chemical Society recently underlined a new format of dissolvable formats of smartwatches and fitness trackers that can disposed in an easier format. The current generation of wearable electronics do not possess the ability to be dismantled and recycled easily, so whenever a new model ofproduct comes out, most users result in sending their older formats into hazardous waste streams. In order to counter a huge chunk of e-waste to be generated, the research team hypothesized and developed a two-metal nanocomposite circuit that can be disintegrated when dissolved into water. They further demonstrated their findings in a prototype made a fully functional transient device that dissolved in a vat of water within 40 hours.
The team hypothesized that wearable technology and planned obsolescence and a faster pace of technology will lead to a surge of new device and rising heaps of electronic waste which is expected to be generated per year. Recycling of this waste can lead to a lessened volume of e-waste and can make space for the latest generation of these devices to reach a wider consumer base. However, the team pertains that the efforts required for recycling smaller consumer electronics was negligible due to the required manual scavengingefforts.
The team previously worked on developing a zinc-based nanocomposite that can be dissolved in water; however, it was not conductive enough for consumer electronics so they improved a dissolvable nanocompositewhile sustainingcircuits that are robust enough for everyday use. The team integrated a form of the current form of zinc-based nanocomposite by adding silver nanowires that made the electrolyte highly conductive. The team then screen-printed a metallic solution onto pieces of poly (vinyl alcohol) – a synthetic polymer that degrades in waterand is further solidified by applying smaller pieces off water that can facilitate further chemical reactions leading to dissimilation.
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