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.

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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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Filtration System to Reduce Microplastic and Heavy Metal Pollution: 

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Microplastics (MPs) are a growing environmental concern due to their high-risk nature as contaminants
that have infiltrated nearly every ecosystem, including our food and body tissues. Their irregular size,
complex composition, and inherent hydrophobicity present significant removal challenges, prompting
ongoing research into advanced, sustainable, and clean energy-based removal techniques. This research
introduces a novel biomass-based filtration system powered by green energy (solar heat), demonstrating

effective removal of MPs and heavy metal contaminants from water. The system uses polyacrylonitrile-
based carbon fiber felt (PAN-CFF) as the base filter, treated with chitosan, plant-derived tannic acid, and

natural beeswax—all naturally sourced biomass-based materials—to create pattern-coated hydrophilic and
hydrophobic (oleophilic) zones. The hydrophilic zones absorb pollutants such as heavy metal ions, while
the oleophilic zones target contaminants like MPs, pesticides, and spilled oil. A key innovation of this study
is the application of natural beeswax in the form of an emulsion to the surface of carbon fibers. Under solar
heating, the beeswax melts into a viscous liquid coating, capturing oleophilic microplastic particles. The
beeswax then solidifies, immobilizing the microplastic particles for further recycling. The filtration system's
performance was evaluated in both laboratory and real-world conditions, successfully removing 90.4% of
lead and 92.8% of MPs. The new filtration system was further tested by removing lead and MPs from
Mississippi River water. This research offers a biomass-based, sustainable, green energy-driven, and
reusable solution for removing microplastic and heavy metal contamination from water.​​​