Tutorial EN06—How to Make Electronic Materials More Sustainable/Last Longer

Instructors: David Cahen, Weizmann Institute of Science; Anke Weidenkaff, Fraunhofer IWKS and Technische Universität Darmstadt; Igor Lubomirsky, Weizmann Institute of Science; Clara Santato, Polytechnique Montréal; David S. Ginley, National Renewable Energy Laboratory; Federico Rosei, Université du Québec; Jihye Kim, Colorado School of Mines

A strategic goal of social development is an increasingly efficient use of resources. Key for the future is the sustainable use of resources, ultimately requiring a nondestructive resource life cycle - a true circular economy. Although complete recycling is impossible from the entropy point of view, the nearly inexhaustible combination of solar, wind and geothermal energy sources can be the driver for sustainability for the foreseeable future. 

There are very significant materials research needs to be attended, to access and use renewable energy sources and make them truly sustainable. The same holds for the systems that store such energy, as well as those that consume them. 

These intertwined needs of materials, electronics and energy drive home the point that to truly realize the circular economy with close to 100% recycling and extended lifetimes is a huge and real challenge. This challenge demands developing new materials, adapting, adjusting or inventing new materials processing techniques and materials, designed with device re-cycling, re-use and as much as possible re-pair in mind.

Key to meeting these challenges are:

1. Increasingly more complete recyclability
2. Minimizing peripheral waste all through the manufacturing processes and
3. Extending lifetimes for end products made with the materials

Such goals can be achieved by using sturdier materials, self-repairing materials, programmable self-disassembling and recyclable materials, where all options need to continue to allow for innovation and dynamics in technology development.

At the next level, materials combinations must be chosen that minimize unwanted chemical and nonchemical processes. Importantly, materials combinations and devices need to be designed for high yield, minimal environmental impact and end-of-life component and material separation and recycling.

This tutorial will cover the expanding role of electronic materials for sustainability and renewable power generation in a circular economy.

It will include:

• Key materials issues for sustainable electronics, including the role of sustainable materials
• Self-healing electronic materials
• Circular economy for sustainable electronics
• Recycling
• Design for ultimately sustainable electronics

After the tutorial, the attendees will be familiar with and have the resources to:

• Adjust their own research to the materials needs of a circular economy
• Be able to critically assess claims about materials and device (hardware) sustainability
• Include the tutorial topic into materials or sustainability courses that they (will) teach

Tutorial Schedule

8:00 am

Key Materials Issues for Sustainable Electronics

David Cahen; Weizmann Institute of Science; Anke Weidenkaff; Fraunhofer IWKS and Technische Universität Darmstadt; Jihye Kim; Colorado School of Mines; Clara Santato; Polytechnique Montréal

8:15 am

Reuse, Recycle and Reclaim Materials for Electronics

Igor Lubomirsky; Weizmann Institute of Science

9:45 am BREAK

10:15 am

Sustainable Manufacturing of Materials

David S. Ginley; National Renewable Energy Laboratory

11:45 am DISCUSSION

12:00 pm BREAK

1:30 pm

Responsible Consumption and Production—What Does It Mean in Practice?

Federico Rosei; Université du Québec

 3:00 pm BREAK

3:30 pm DISCUSSION