Duke University researchers have developed a technology that could revolutionize the way displays are produced, even making them more environmentally friendly. Based on carbon nanotubes, this technology enables the creation of fully functional, fully recyclable electronics.
This discovery has the potential to reduce the industry's environmental impact. The authors employed a high-precision capillary printing method developed in collaboration with the French company Hummink Technologies. This method overcomes previous technical limitations and enables the printing of electronic components with submicron precision.
Recyclable Electronics
The printing process uses three types of carbon inks: nanotube-based, graphene-based, and nanocellulose-based. These inks are suitable for use on rigid substrates (glass, silicon) as well as flexible and biodegradable materials.
The method also enables the fabrication of thin-film transistors (TFTs) with submicron channel lengths (used in LCD and OLED displays). This method will not replace silicon microchips, but it could reduce the energy required to produce them and lower greenhouse gas emissions. Most importantly, they will be fully recyclable.
