Electronic waste is one of the most serious problems the world must face, not only from an environmental point of view but also an economic one. Beyond the short upgrade cycles of today's devices, there is also the lack of biodegradability in their components. However, a group of researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison wants to change that with a semiconductor chip made mostly of wood.
One of the channels I follow most on YouTube belongs to the user Maxxarcade, who repairs arcade machines as his main activity, but also brings all kinds of devices back from the brink, including amplifiers, computers, and monitors. His latest rescue was a 32-inch TV thrown in the trash. The problem? A diode that had short-circuited. Some intergalactic genius decided to throw away an entire television over a diode that must cost 50 cents. This is just one of many situations feeding the e-waste conflict. We also shouldn't forget the influence of planned obsolescence. Manufacturers want exactly this kind of behavior and do everything possible (including bending a law or two) to make us discard "the old and the broken" and run out to the store. Another aspect to consider is that components are not biodegradable. The chemicals used in their manufacture can remain in a place for decades, contaminating soil and water alike.
A Biodegradable Chip
A new study published by a group of researchers under the wing of the University of Wisconsin-Madison reports that it is possible to add a layer of biodegradability to semiconductor chips using wood. Technically, the new substrate is made of cellulose fibers at the nanoscale, much smaller than what we can appreciate in something as common as a piece of paper. The use of wood as a substrate is of great importance because in the manufacture of a conventional chip, most of the material is nothing more than support, while the rest of the design needs only a few micrometers. Once it comes into contact with the environment, the chip begins to decompose like a regular piece of wood, attacked by fungi.
The two main challenges that arise when using wood are compression and expansion associated with moisture. To reduce both possibilities, the researchers applied a layer of epoxy on the surface of the cellulose, which at the same time gives it enough smoothness to work on it without problems. The epoxy may delay the biodegradation process a bit, but the alternatives are definitely worse. The toxicity of gallium arsenide is well documented, recycling initiatives are very slow or face bureaucratic obstacles, and the truth is that we are throwing more electronics into the bin every day. No one knows for sure whether this method will reach the market, but the idea of a biodegradable chip certainly doesn't hurt.
