Printable Electronic Material Inspired by Trees

Innovation: Academia

Simon Fraser University

2019

Image: Lucie Hošová / Unsplash / CC BY SA - Creative Commons Attribution + ShareAlike

Physically Break Down Non-living Materials

Nonliving materials are not carbon-based; that is, they are not and never have been living organs or tissues. However, they can be the products of living organisms, such as the calcium carbonate materials found in seashells (excluding organic compounds included in them). Physically breaking down nonliving materials requires mechanical means. While feeding, some living systems encounter very hard nonliving materials that can hinder access to the food. To address this, their teeth or other structures often contain minerals to maximize their hardness. For example, a marine organism called the chiton eats algae. But to access the algae, it must scrape it from rocks. To do so, it uses a special structure made of a material that’s stronger than the rock.

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Manage Compression

When a living system is under compression, there is a force pushing on it, like a chair with a person sitting on it. When evenly applied to all sides of a living system, compression results in decreased volume. When applied on two sides, it results in deformation, such as when pushing on two sides of a balloon. This deformation can be temporary or permanent. Because living systems must retain their most efficient form, they must ensure that any deformation is temporary. Managing compression also provides an opportunity to lessen the effects of other forces. Living systems have strategies to help prevent compression or recover from it, while maintaining function. For example, African elephant adults weigh from 4,700 to 6,048 kilograms. Because they must hold all of that weight on their four feet, the tissues of their feet have features that enable compression to absorb and distribute forces.

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Manage Tension

When a living system is under tension, it means there is a force pulling on it, like a person pulling on a rope tied to a horse. When applied to a living system, unless the system is completely rigid, the result is that it gets stretched. If stretching exceeds the strength of the living system’s material, it can damage it. Living systems manage tension using materials that are flexible and stretchable enough to survive most tension that occurs in their environment. The ocean’s intertidal zone offers a good example. The waves and incoming and outgoing tides put tension on soft-bodied organisms. Mussels resist tension with flexible threads that hold them onto rocks; in contrast, large algae have stretchy fronds.

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Electronic material from Simon Fraser University is made of a wood-derived cellulose that enables electronic devices to be recycled at the end of their usable lives.

Benefits

Biocompatible
Reduced costs
Reduced waste

Applications

Optics
Consumer goods
3D Printing

UN Sustainable Development Goals Addressed

Goal 9: Industry Innovation & Infrastructure

Bioutilization

Cellulose

The Challenge

Electronic waste, called e-waste, is often classified as hazardous because it contains toxins that are harmful to both humans and the environment. When the components from old devices cannot be recycled for use in new electronics, it is nearly impossible to eliminate the harmful chemicals that eventually leach into the ground or the atmosphere.

Innovation Details

The material is a wood-derived that can replace plastics used in manufacturing electronics. The material can be 3D-printed to form devices such as circuit boards. When the device reaches the end of its lifetime, the material can be recycled or naturally broken down without contaminating the environment.

Biomimicry Story

Plant matter is mainly made up of cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin. Cellulose makes up 30 to 90 percent of a plant; it gives plants their structure. Cellulose is lightweight but has a high strength to weight ratio, making it strong and durable. Cellulose can be broken down into small components called nanocrystals. Nanocrystals are strong and have low thermal conductivity.

See Related Strategy

Biological Strategy

Nanocrystals Isolated From Cellulose Have Unique Properties

Plants

Nanocrystals isolated from cellulose are strong, flexible, and lightweight

References

Journal article

3D Printed Disposable Wireless Ion Sensors with Biocompatible Cellulose Composites

Advanced Electronic Materials

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