E-waste
A major problem with electronics is that they require many materials. Since the 1970s, the amount of materials we extract from the earth for our electronics has tripled to 90 billion tonnes. And it is expected that by 2050, this will have increased another two to three times. This means that we need more and more raw materials, while supplies are dwindling. The EU classifies 34 raw materials as 'critical': economically crucial and at high risk of supply issues (). Most of these critical raw materials, such semiconductors and metals, are used in our electronics. And this leads to several problems, explains John Schermer, Associate Professor of Applied Materials Science:
‘The raw materials are scarce, and we use them inefficiently. We need more and more of them. However, mining these materials is often dangerous and leads to negative environmental effects, such as climate change and biodiversity loss. Secondly, we use our electronics for a relatively short time, causing the materials they contain to quickly be classified as waste. These materials are rarely recovered, making us increasingly dependent on a limited number of suppliers. Recycling materials is difficult, and poorly processed e-waste also leads to pollution and health risks.’
Circular Circuits
In the Circular Circuits project, researchers from seven Dutch universities are working with companies linked to the semiconductor industry on a new generation of circular electronics. They aim to eliminate the concept of e-waste, extend the lifespan of products, and work towards a fully closed circular electronics economy. Additionally, they want to find solutions for using raw materials more efficiently, so that we need less of them. Battal (PhD candidate at Applied Material Science) and Schermer focus within Circular Circuits on 'lifetime extending technology (manufacturing)'.
To work towards an industry-wide solution for extending the lifespan of electronics, a detailed approach is required. ‘We focus on the reliability of semiconductor components. These are very small parts of a device, but you can consider them the heart of our electronics. For example, think of a laptop: it contains a motherboard with various microelectronic components - better known as chips. All those chips have their own function. Currently, it is almost impossible to replace individual chips. So, if one chip on your motherboard breaks, you can throw away the laptop. The Circular Circuits program aims to modify electronic components so that they become more durable and also can be replaced and recycled,’ explains Battal.
Power Electronics
Battal and Schermer are researching chips that are used as power electronics. These are found in critical applications such as cars and airplanes where they endure harsh conditions. For instance, the chip can reach internal temperatures of up to 175 degrees, which means it must withstand heat well. This also applies to the connection of the semiconductor part of the chip to its lead-frame (the thin metal structure that connects the chip to the outside world). Heat induced stresses cause the interconnection between the chip and this frame to fail after a certain period of time.
Battal: “We are focusing on finding new structured materials to connect semiconductors to the metal lead-frame that can withstand harsh conditions and thus last longer.”
