Research & Initiatives

Green Electronics: A Prospective Proof-of-Concept Study

Modern electronic devices have greatly enhanced convenience in people's daily lives and are expected to play an even larger role in the future. However, they also pose significant threats to human health and the environment: Electronic or E-waste. The global generation of over 50 million tons of E-waste in 2019 alone highlights the urgent need for sustainable solutions as most of the electronics are made of durable plastics and metals, making E-waste recycling and management challenging. This research explores the feasibility of using 100% degradable materials to produce personally used electronics. To test the concept of degradable or green electronics, a group of electronic devices with simple constructions were fabricated on a biodegradable composite substrate, and then their degradation was studied.  Polylactic acid (PLA), a degradable polymer that has been studied mostly, was reinforced with biomass filler and English nutshell micro-powder and then employed as substrates for fabricating electronic prototypes. The degradation behavior of these devices was studied by subjecting them to a water-based degradation experiment at 50℃ for several weeks until the polymer substrates were visually fully degraded. The progress of degradation was monitored by measuring the weight change of the device and the release rate of lactic acid (LA) resulting from the hydrolysis degradation. The findings of this study demonstrate the practicality and possibility of making personally used electronics degradable and recyclable. We strongly urge lawmakers to enact legislation and regulations encouraging electronic manufacturers to adopt degradable materials to fabricate personal electronics.

A Smart Deicing System: 

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Freshwater, a vital resource that supports all life on Earth, is facing a concerning increase in saltiness due to human activities, particularly the excessive use of salt. Road deicing salt has become a significant contributor to this problem. In the United States alone, about twenty million tons of road salt is dumped on public roads every year. As these salts dissolve, they flow into streams, rivers, and lakes, posing a serious threat to our environment and infrastructure.

The aim of this research was to develop a more environmentally friendly deicing system by reducing the use of chloride deicers. To achieve this, a core-shell structured capsule was designed to release deicer agents in a controlled and sustained manner, at the right time, place, and amount. Additionally, this structure allowed for the combination of natural deicers, like beetroot juice, with chloride deicers in a unique way. The beetroot was enclosed within a NaCl particle-walled vessel using a rolling coating process, strengthened with a composite binder.

When the capsule is compressed externally (e.g., by road traffic), the beet juice stored in the beetroot is released, partially dissolving the sodium chloride, and creating a synergistic deicing mixture. The structure of the core-shell prototypes was examined, and their deicing performance was tested in both laboratory and small area field settings. Initial data shows that the method developed in this research effectively removes ice and can reduce salt pollution by 35% in water during mild winter road conditions, providing a more environmentally friendly deicing system

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