CIRCUIT BOARDS BASED ON MUSHROOMS ARE BUILT BY SCIENTISTS.

“THE RESULTS ARE GROUNDBREAKING.”

MycelioTronics

Electronic garbage, commonly referred to as “e-waste,” is a significant polluter and a problem that is getting harder to solve. However, it’s exciting to learn that a group of Austrian scientists are working on a novel approach to at least partially solve the e-waste puzzle: they’re creating biodegradable substrates for electronics out of mushroom skins.

Yes, I do. These materials, known as “MycelioTronics,” are demonstrating amazing promise as a potential substitute for conventional plastic printed circuit boards, among other uses, according to the scientists’ proof-of-concept research published in Science Advances.

Skin Deep

Many electronic devices consist mostly of substrates, which give computer components a heating and cooling base. Unfortunately, they are both constructed of non-recyclable polymers and extremely difficult to separate from other parts.

In other words, substrates play a significant role in the projected 50 million metric tons of e-waste produced annually.
According to Martin Kaltenbrunner, a researcher at Johannes Kepler University in Linz, Austria, and one of the researchers on this study, “the substrate itself is the most challenging [component] to recycle.” Additionally, it makes up the majority of the electronics.

That’s where the mushrooms come in, thanks to a fortunate laboratory accident: while examining whether it was feasible to make insulation for homes out of mushroom skin, the researchers found that the mycelium-covering skins of reishi mushrooms in particular were surprisingly “robust, flexible, and heat resistant,” able to withstand temperatures as high as almost 500 degrees Fahrenheit. Basically, substrates for electronics have to have all the necessary properties.

The items may potentially endure for a very long period if maintained away from UV radiation, the researchers told New Scientist, which is exciting. When it’s finally time to retire the device, the substrate may simply be buried in soil, where it will decompose naturally and seperate from the more recyclable computer parts that the substrates carry.

Looking Forward

The outcomes are encouraging. A normal computer chip was soldered into the material to test it, according to a news release, and the researchers claim the mushroom skin performed a very good job. The hope is that this mycelium material will eventually replace conventional substrates for printed circuit boards, flexible electronics, and even some medical devices, even though it is not yet ready for mass production.
According to Andrew Adamatzky, a computer scientist at the University of the West of England, “the prototypes developed are spectacular, and the findings are ground-breaking.”

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