Biodegradable materials: Foundation of transient and sustainable electronics

Biodegradable materials are designed to degrade in a desired time either through the action of microorganisms or under certain physical conditions. The driving force behind the rise of biodegradable materials is the growing problem of electronic waste (e-waste), low recyclability, and toxicity of electronic materials. Transient response of biodegradable materials has found application in next-generation health-care and biomedical devices. Advances in material science and manufacturing technique have pushed the envelope of innovation further. This review discusses different biodegradable material classes that have emerged to replace the traditional non-biodegradable materials in electronics. Focus has been given to conversion of biodegradable materials to inks and pastes that find use in printed electronics to create flexible, bendable, soft, and degradable devices. Material degradation behavior and dissolution chemistries have been illustrated to understand their impact on electrical performance of devices. Finally, some short-term and long-term challenges are pointed out to overcome the commercialization barrier.