Magnetic separation of silver conductive material for fully biodegradable electronics

There is a strong desire to remove plastic from printed electronics; both removing plastic as a substrate and also replacing FRPs in traditional PCB assemblies, including many biodegradable alternatives. The challenge then becomes what happens to the circuit material? Circuits made with carbon-based inks lack the conductivity required for many applications. Metal circuits, such as copper and silver, can accumulate in the environment and reach highly toxic levels or enter waterways. We present our unique solution to this problem, using magnets to recover the conductive material, allowing us to provide inks that are both highly conductive and environmentally friendly.