Plastic with purpose: US scientists create recyclable polymer that glows in dark

The Argonne National Laboratory (ANL) has presented the future of electronics: biodegradable luminescent polymers.

Luminescent polymers—flexible materials with built-in light emission—illuminate a range of modern electronics from car displays to smartphone screens.

As technology advances, so does the problem of electronic waste. These discarded devices, including those powered by luminescent polymers, are piling up in landfills, posing a significant environmental threat.

A team of researchers, led by Jie Xu from ANL, has developed this new solution of luminescent polymers that not only have high light-emitting efficiency but are also biodegradable and recyclable.

“We were able to make this material biodegradable and recyclable without sacrificing the functionality. This work serves as an important benchmark in addressing the urgent need for sustainability in the design of future electronics,” said Xu.

A special chemical

The secret lies in integrating a special chemical called tert-butyl ester. This compound allows the polymer to quickly degrade when exposed to heat or mild acid.

They highlight that the chemical helps achieve high light-emitting properties during operations and recycling at the end.

The team assessed the material’s light output using external quantum efficiency, a standard performance metric. The results were outstanding with a 15.1% electroluminescence efficiency. Interestingly, this represents a tenfold boost compared to existing degradable luminescent polymers.

The researchers envision this polymer in various applications, from current technologies like displays and medical imaging to entirely new possibilities. The next phase involves transitioning the material from the lab to the market, with cell phones and computer screens as initial targets.

In addition to their excellent light-emitting capability, luminescent polymers have remarkable flexibility and stretchability, showcasing the vast potential for various types of next-gen gadgets.

Overcoming e-waste deluge

Our growing reliance on digital devices has resulted in a deluge of electronic waste . Recycling them is complex and resource-intensive. With limited recycling options, these devices often end up buried or discarded, causing severe environmental harm.

Despite the financial benefits of recycling luminescent polymers, their complex molecular structure has hindered effective recycling methods.

“This is a $46 billion-a-year industry, and it is only growing,” said Xu, a scientist in the Center for Nanoscale Materials, a DOEOffice of Science user facility at Argonne. ​“By 2032 the industry is estimated to grow to $260 billion. With this method, we can eliminate this type of electronic waste that would otherwise be piling up in landfills,” Xu added in the press release.

Designed for sustainability, this new polymer can be degraded under gentle acidic conditions or moderate heat. Its components can then be extracted and transformed into new materials, completing the recycling loop and creating a circular economy for electronics.

The findings have been reported in the journal Nature Sustainability . Apart from the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) ANL, the development involved researchers from the University of Chicago, Purdue University, and Yale University.