Compostable and Biodegradable Organic Electronics

Natural organic materials (NOM) are relevant for biodegradable electronic devices and their powering elements (e.g. batteries). Biodegradation at the device’s end-of-life is expected to cause a decrease in the portion of e-waste which is poorly managed/landfilled (and as such causing damage to health and the environment).<br/><br/>In this contribution we will discuss <i>the molecular and supramolecular properties of NOMs (e.g. melanins and tannins), their complex chemical composition (due to biosynthesis) and their charge transfer and charge carrier transport properties, which underpin their use in electronic devices and their powering elements. We will report on compostability studies of transistors and supercapacitors based on NOMs, performed following the experimental conditions indicated by international industrial standards. Finally, we will try to propose guidelines (i) to</i><i> design NOMs for biodegradability in terms of molecular disassembly and exfoliation of supramolecular NOM aggregates and (ii) to eco-design biodegradable electronic devices based on NOMs.</i>