€5m project to develop metal-free interconnect to tackle e-waste
A European and UK research project is aiming to replace metal and copper wiring in electronic devices with conductive bioinks to tackle electronic waste.
Researchers from eight organisations are working on the REFORM project want to replace metal wiring with bio-based conductive inks that can be printed onto recyclable materials, which can then be embedded into devices or placed on surfaces using a de-bondable, organic and reversible adhesive.
The 42 month project secured €3.59 million in funding from the European Union’s Horizon Europe programme and a further €1.4 million from UK Research and Innovation. This could give Europe a lead in green functional electronics, says project lead, Yolanda Alesanco from Cidetec, an R&D company in San Sebastian, Spain.
“Although typical devices contain limited amounts of metals and materials, they are produced on a massive scale. It has been estimated, for example, that there are 16 billion mobile phones in the world. Each one of these devices contains non-renewable materials such as gold, copper, silver and palladium,” she said.
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As well as Cidetec and Aimplas Plastics Technology Centre in Spain, the project includes the UK’s National Composite Centre in Brisstol and Centre for Process Innovation in Durham, Almascince and Nova.id in Portugal, Specific Polymers in Montpelier, France, CISC in Klagenfurt, Austria and KTH in Stockhilm, Sweden,
“Often, these metals are embedded in ways that make extracting or recycling them extremely difficult or uneconomic. To overcome this reality, we want to create an alternative means of constructing electronic components. Where instead of using rare metals in devices, we employ sustainable materials such as organic adhesives, bio-based conductive inks and recyclable flexible substrates”.
Crowdhelix, a company that employs AI to connect researchers, innovators and business leaders, will build a networking and collaboration hub for global experts in this emerging field to coalesce around.
The Green Functional Electronics Helix will enable the project team to begin exploring the commercial application of the project with global experts and key sectoral leaders. Michael Browne, CEO of Crowdhelix, believes that the company’s unique capabilities can help the project deliver on its ambition to become the catalyst for a green-printed electronics supply chain.
“The Crowdhelix platform has been specifically designed to bring researchers, innovators and business leaders together so that they can work on collaborative projects that will generate tangible results across industry and society”.
“The Green Functional Electronics Helix will make it easier for global experts to coalesce around pioneering ideas and share knowledge that will drive innovation in green printed electronics”.
The project builds on the advances made in printed electronics in recent years, the market for which is expected to grow to over $19 billion by 2031.
“Printed electronics employ precise inkjet printing technology to create conductive channels on substrates,” said Ana Viñuales, Head of the Nanosurface Unit at Cidetec Surface Engineering.
“Because the process is relatively easy to replicate, printed electronics are very cost-efficient. However, the industry has yet to make that process environmentally sustainable. We want to produce green-printed electronics that meet the needs of industry and society while consuming the least amount of resources possible.”
“If we’re successful, we will progress green printed electronics from early-stage research to near-market-readiness by creating functional prototypes with known market demand,” she said.
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